Description
This classic Croque Monsieur recipe features crispy bread, savory ham, melted Gruyère cheese, and creamy béchamel sauce for a quick and indulgent French sandwich perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Ingredients
Bread
- Thick slices of sturdy white bread or brioche
Meat
- Thinly sliced cooked ham
Cheese
- Grated Gruyère cheese
Béchamel Sauce
- Butter (for sauce and toasting)
- All-purpose flour
- Warm milk
- Salt and pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Other
- Mustard (optional, for spreading)
Instructions
- Prepare the béchamel sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for about one minute to form a roux. Gradually add warm milk while stirring continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and optionally a pinch of nutmeg.
- Assemble the sandwich: Spread a thin layer of béchamel sauce on one slice of bread. Add a slice of ham, then sprinkle grated Gruyère cheese over the ham. Top with the second slice of bread. Spread more béchamel sauce on top and finish with another generous sprinkle of Gruyère cheese.
- Cook until golden and bubbly: Heat butter in a skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Place the sandwich in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted. Alternatively, bake the sandwich in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
Notes
- Use day-old bread for better texture and crispness.
- Do not skip the béchamel sauce to maintain creaminess and avoid dryness.
- Grate the cheese finely to ensure even melting and blending with béchamel.
- Cook on medium heat to crisp bread without burning and to melt cheese thoroughly.
- Toast the bread lightly before assembling for an extra crispy base.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Croque Monsieur, French sandwich, béchamel sauce, ham and cheese sandwich, grilled sandwich, French cuisine
