Croque Monsieur
Croque Monsieur is a classic French sandwich featuring toasty bread, savory ham, and melted Gruyère cheese, perfect for any meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 8 slices sturdy white sandwich bread or pain de mie
- 6-8 thin slices quality cooked ham
- 1 ½ cups (about 150g) grated aged Gruyère cheese
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups (300ml) whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- A pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for 1-2 minutes without letting it brown.
- Add 1 ¼ cups of whole milk gradually while whisking to prevent lumps. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Remove from heat and stir in Dijon mustard if using.
- Lay out the 8 slices of bread. Spread béchamel on one side of each slice. On four slices, layer ham and sprinkle about ½ cup of grated Gruyère cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, béchamel side down.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of softened butter on the outside of each sandwich.
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook sandwiches for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Optional: Spoon extra béchamel on top of each sandwich, sprinkle with remaining Gruyère, and broil for 2-3 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before slicing the sandwiches.
Notes
For a lighter sandwich, consider using whole grain bread. Gruyère cheese can also be substituted with Emmental or Swiss cheese if needed.