Description
The Croque Monsieur is the epitome of French comfort food: a simple sandwich elevated to culinary perfection with rich béchamel sauce, savory ham, and nutty Gruyère cheese, all baked until golden and bubbling. This seemingly humble dish embodies everything wonderful about French cuisine—simplicity, quality ingredients, and elegance.
Ingredients
Scale
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- 8 slices of white bread or brioche (such as easy homemade sandwich bread)
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- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
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- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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- 2 cups whole milk
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- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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- Salt and pepper to taste
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- Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
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- 8 slices of high-quality ham
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- 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese
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- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
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- Prepare the Béchamel Sauce:
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- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until it starts to foam. Stir in the flour and whisk continuously for about 2 minutes until the mixture is light golden in color.
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- Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Add Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg if desired for that classic French flavor. Set aside.
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- Prepare the Béchamel Sauce:
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- Assemble the Sandwich:
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- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a clean work surface, lay out the slices of bread. Spread each slice with a generous amount of béchamel sauce. On half of the bread slices, place a slice of ham, followed by a good handful of grated Gruyère cheese. Top with the remaining slices of bread, béchamel side down. Press gently to seal.
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- Assemble the Sandwich:
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- Grill the Sandwich:
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- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet, and add the sandwiches. Cook until golden brown on each side, ensuring that the cheese begins to melt. This step can be done in batches depending on your skillet size.
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- Grill the Sandwich:
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- Bake the Sandwiches:
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- Transfer the sandwiches to a baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of béchamel sauce on top of each sandwich and sprinkle with more Gruyère and Parmesan cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for about 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the top is golden.
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- Bake the Sandwiches:
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- Serve Hot:
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- Serve your croque monsieur immediately with a simple green salad or a classic French side dish, like Caesar pasta salad for a complementary bite.
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- Serve Hot:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Main Course, Brunch
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: per serving
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1020mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 18 grams
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg