Hot Brown Sandwich Baked in Puff Pastry as a Main Dish or Appetizer

Finger food at its best, all wrapped in flaky crust!!.

I have been way-laid on my original plan.  I went to the butcher shop today with the Boar's Head Arostica Chicken and Tavern Ham in mind to use for this but as they have been closed for vacation they are so very low on stock they didn't have it in yet.  So I will improvise and it will work just as well I am confident.

I have planned a garden salad and  "Hot Brown's in Crust" for supper.  Here are the ingredients:

2 sheets of frozen puff pastry, thawed overnight in the refrigerator
1/4 pound thinly sliced ham
1/4 pound sliced or shredded cheese of your choice, we like cheddar
French mustard
1 egg beaten well
7-8 slices of bacon fried crisp


First preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and place a sheet of parchment atop a baking sheet and set aside for now.  Cook the bacon and drain on paper towels.  Set the bacon aside.

Unfold the first sheet of puff pastry and roll it to about 12"x 14".  Carefully center it on the parchment covered baking sheet.  Spread a thin layer of the French mustard leaving a 1/2" strip around the perimeter plain.

Top  the mustard with thin slices of the ham.  Next place the bacon strips across the ham and finish with a layer of the shredded cheese.

Using a pastry brush lightly coat the outside edges with the beaten egg.  Roll out the second sheet of pastry to the same size and carefully lay it atop the ingredients.  Use the tines of a dinner fork and press the edges together all around.

Brush the top of the pastry with the beaten egg.  Cut 3-4 slits across the top so the steam can escape.  Bake for 35-40 minutes until brown and puffed.  Remove from the oven.  Slice into strips and serve warm.  You may also heat up some additional cheese sauce to pour across the servings if desired or to use as a dipping sauce for the strips.  Honey mustard would be a delicious dipping sauce.

Note:  When I make this again I will add a layer of chicken or turkey thinly sliced.  Today I sliced Field Kentuckian Ham into thin slices.

This can also be made and cut into very small portions and served as an appetizer and could be served either warm or cold.

Yield 14 slices.