Have you refreshed yourself with those ice-cold Mint Juleps yet? Good. Keep a glass handy because our next recipe will make you sweat like a billy goat in a pepper patch (if that’s what billy goats do when they’re in a patch of pepper). You may want to loosen those fancy derby ties and remove those elegant derby hats for our next great Derby idea, Kentucky Hot Brown!

Kentucky Hot Brown is a classic Louisville open-faced sandwich buried in layers of turkey and bacon and slathered in a special decadent cheese sauce. The sandwich itself is a cousin of an evening snack famously enjoyed in the ’20s called Welsh Rarebit. It was said that eating a plate of Rarebit before bed caused strange, hallucinogenic dreams, not unlike the effects of having enjoyed a slice of pizza before going to sleep! Hopefully this recipe won’t give you strange dreams, but instead warm the bellies of your guests as you sip mint juleps and cheer on your race horse!

Kentucky Hot Brown

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 pint heavy cream

4 ounces grated Locatelli cheese (Pecorino Romano- generic, or Parimigiano Reggiano, if desired)

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 slices thick sliced white bread, toasted

12 ounces roasted sliced turkey

8 slices thick cut smoked bacon, cooked until crisp

2-3 sprigs Italian flat leaf parsley, leaves only, chopped

Pinch paprika

4 slices large ripe tomato, you may need 2 per slice of bread if smaller tomatoes

 

Directions

Preheat broiler to high. In the meantime, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk to combine. Whisk continuously until golden blonde color in achieved.  Don’t cook beyond this point; about 2 minutes.  Slowly pour in heavy cream while whisking constantly.  Bring sauce to a simmer and immediately remove from heat.  Whisk in grated cheese and season with salt and pepper.

To Assemble

Place bread in the bottom of a baking dish and top each slice with 1-2 slices of turkey.

Pour sauce over each sandwich, being sure of completely coating it.

Place under the preheated broiler until brown spots form and it becomes bubbly, about 2 minutes.

Place 2 slices of bacon in a cross on top of each slice and sprinkle with a bit of parsley and paprika.

Add a slice of fresh tomato to each portion before serving.  Serve hot!