Mini Kentucky Hot Browns

The Hot Brown is an open-faced sandwich of turkey and bacon, covered in Mornay sauce. Made famous in the 1920’s by the chef at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, this mini-version is a quintessential Derby Day party food!

These Mini Kentucky Hot Browns are crowd-pleasing bite you can scale up or down for a crowd or yourself and enjoy in front of your television while cheering on your favorite horse.

Don’t forget to wear your fanciest hat. ;)

Mini Kentucky Hot Browns

Serves 24

Ingredients

• 24 (2-inch) round slices white bread

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

• 1⁄4 pound thick-cut smoked deli turkey, cut into bite-size pieces

• 24 slices Roma tomatoes

• 1⁄4 cup loosely packed chopped parsley

• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

• Mornay Sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.  Brush both sides of bread rounds with melted butter.
2. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes, or until lightly golden.

• Spoon Mornay sauce on top of toasted bread rounds.
• Sprinkle with bacon. Layer 2 pieces turkey and 1 slice tomato.
• Sprinkle with parsley and paprika. Serve immediately.

Mornay Sauce

Makes 1 1/2 cups (serving size: about 2 1/2 tablespoons)

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Dash of ground white pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
• ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded Gruyère cheese

1. Place butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until butter melts, stirring occasionally.
2. Add onion to pan; cook 10 minutes or until tender (do not brown), stirring occasionally.
3. Sprinkle flour over onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Gradually add milk to flour mixture, stirring with a whisk until smooth; bring to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Strain mixture through a fine sieve over a bowl; discard solids.
5. Stir in salt, pepper, and nutmeg, if desired.
6. Wipe pan clean with paper towels.
7. Return sauce to pan, and place over medium-low heat. Add Gruyère cheese, stirring until smooth. Serve immediately.

Serve these Kentucky Hot Browns with a  Sweet Tea Julep,

a marriage of two classic Southern drinks, the mint julep and sweet tea!

And for a sweet ending, serve up some  Mini Derby Pies, a Bluegrass-inspired recipe, baked in a muffin tin! These mini pies are a winning trifecta of pecan pie, chocolate and a touch of Kentucky Bourbon!