Croque Monsieur
Croque Monsieur is a classic French sandwich made with ham and cheese, layered between slices of bread and topped with a buttery béchamel sauce. This delicious and satisfying dish is perfect for lunch or a quick dinner.
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or frying pan
- 1 saucepan
- 1 whisk
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 oven (or toaster oven)
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread White or whole grain.
- 4 slices ham About 150g.
- 4 slices Gruyère cheese About 150g.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter For spreading on bread.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter For béchamel sauce.
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- a pinch nutmeg Optional.
- 100 g additional Gruyère cheese For topping.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for about 1 minute until smooth.
- Gradually pour in the milk, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Remove from heat.
- Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. On the unbuttered side, layer a slice of ham, followed by a slice of Gruyère cheese, then top with another slice of bread (buttered side facing out).
- In a large skillet, heat on medium heat. Cook the sandwiches for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and the cheese begins to melt.
- Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet. Pour the béchamel sauce over each sandwich and sprinkle additional Gruyère cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Notes
For a variation, you can add sautéed mushrooms or spinach to the sandwich filling.
Serve with a simple green salad or pickles for a refreshing contrast.