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Hot Brown Sandwich with Charred Tomatoes

The Kentucky derby is right around the corner and I could not think of anything better to serve to your friends than a hot brown sandwich, with some mint juleps.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Keyword: Cheese, Holidays, Kentucky derby, Sandwiches
Skill: intermediate
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • .33 cups Tillamook orange cheddar cheese, grated
  • .25 lb Sliced turkey breast
  • 2 Ripe tomatoes, sliced thick
  • 4 Strips bacon
  • 2 Slices good sandwich bread, toasted
  • 1 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cups Tillamook extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 tbsp Tillamook unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
  • 1 cups Whole milk
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked pepper

Instructions

  • For the Cheese Sauce: Add the butter to a small saucepan preheating over medium-low heat.
  • When melted, add the flour and constantly whisk (or it will burn) until the mixture is dark blonde in color, about 4-5 minutes. While whisking, slowly add the milk and raise the heat to medium. Keep whisking so no lumps form in the sauce and cook until the mixture gets rich, creamy, and a little thick, about 5 minutes. You know it's ready when the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
  • Take off the heat and add a small handful of white cheddar and whisk until it's incorporated, continue doing this until you have used 1 cup of the grated cheese.
  • Put back over low heat and season with the nutmeg, salt, and a couple cracks of fresh pepper. Mix and check for seasoning.
  • Take off heat and set aside.
  • For the Grilled Tomato Slices: Preheat a cast iron grill pan over high heat. Quickly sear one side of the tomato until char marks appear, no more than one minute, take off the heat and set aside.
  • For the Peppered Bacon: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay bacon on a sheet tray and grind some pepper on each slice. Bake for 12 minutes until crispy, take out and set aside.
  • To Build the Sandwich: Preheat broiler to low and make sure there is 6 inches between the heating element and the rack. Using a cast iron pan or sheet pan, lay both toasted bread slices down.
  • Top each with 2-3 slices of roasted turkey, and one slice of fresh tomato (not grilled), season tomato with a pinch of salt.
  • Top each sandwich with a generous amount of cheese sauce. Make sure the sauce is overflowing the edges a little bit.
  • Top cheese sauce with shredded orange cheddar and place under the broiler for 5 minutes. Keep your eye on it the entire time so it doesn't burn. You want the cheese sauce to bubble and get brown in spots.
  • Take pan out of the oven and top each with a grilled tomato slice, two slices of bacon in a criss-cross pattern, and garnish with chopped parsley.