Briony May Williams' Welsh monsieur

Cheese and ham toastie on sourdough bread with tomato soup, on a brown plank board, with grated cheese and onion surrounding it.

Briony's Welsh monsieur

Cook along with Briony

14th October 2026

BBC iPlayer

Watch on iPlayer

On Wednesday 14th October Briony gave her twist on the classic croque monsieur - a hot ham and cheese sandwich, done the French way. But she also took inspiration from the Welsh rarebit to create her ultimate grilled cheese - the Welsh monsieur.

Welsh Monsieur

Ingredients:

  • 4 thick slices of sourdough bread

  • 3 tbsp salted butter

  • 1 garlic glove

  • 200g mature cheddar cheese, grated

  • 1 egg

  • 2 tbsp milk

  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/2 tsp English mustard

  • Pinch chilli powder (optional)

  • 4 slices of ham

METHOD:

  • Rub garlic on the bread before buttering for extra flavour.

  • Brush the bread slices with butter and place under the grill until light golden brown then flip and toast the other side.

  • Oven on to 200C fan/220C. Set aside a handful of grated cheese then mix the rest together with the egg yolk, milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and chilli powder if using.

  • Place 2 slices of toasted bread on a baking tray lined with foil. Spread over half the cheesy mixture and ham.

  • Top each one with another slice of toast then spread over the rest of the mixture and top with the remaining cheese.

  • Bake for 10 minutes until melted and golden brown.

Tomato soup:

  • 400g tin chopped tomatoes

  • 1 red onion, diced

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • Pinch of salt

  • 400ml vegetable stock

  • 1 tbsp tomato purée

  • 2 tbsp cream cheese

METHOD:

  • In a pan, add a tablespoon of butter. When melted, add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened.

  • Add the paprika and salt, cook for 30 seconds then pour in the chopped tomatoes, vegetable stock and purée.

  • Simmer gently for 5 minutes then stir through the cream cheese. Blend until smooth.