The CROQUE MONSIEUR is one of those dishes that smells of a Parisian bistro and lazy breakfasts, when time seems to stop between butter sizzling in the pan and cheese slowly melting. Iconic and irresistible, this gratinated sandwich is an evergreen classic of French cuisine: simple in ingredients, yet capable of delivering an explosion of flavor that wins you over at the first bite.
Layers of soft bread, spread with a silky béchamel, welcome thin slices of cooked ham and a generous layer of Gruyère or Emmental cheese, ready to melt until golden and stringy. A short gratin in the oven creates a fragrant, crunchy surface while the inside remains creamy and enveloping.
Perfect for a hearty brunch, a quick but special lunch, or a comforting dinner that lifts the mood, the Croque Monsieur brings all the elegance of French tradition to the table in a few simple steps.
A recipe to note down and make again whenever you crave something indulgent, quick, and irresistibly chic.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 servings
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: French
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 8 slices sandwich bread
- 7 oz cooked ham
- 8 slices Gruyère (or Emmental)
- 1 cup Gruyère, shredded into strips (or Emmental)
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
Tools
- 2 Small saucepans
- 1 Whisk
- parchment paper
Steps
The preparation of the CROQUE MONSIEUR is very simple and quick.
Place the milk in a small saucepan with a pinch of salt and a grating of black pepper and warm it up.
Heat the butter in a saucepan over low heat without letting it brown. As soon as it has melted, add the flour all at once and stir for about 2 minutes with a whisk or a wooden spoon. Pour the milk progressively, continuing to stir until you obtain a smooth and fairly thick sauce. Remove from the heat, add the mustard, and incorporate it.
Preheat the oven (conventional/static mode) to 392°F.
Cut the ham slices to the same size as the bread. Arrange half of the bread slices side by side on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread some béchamel on each slice, then place a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, and another slice of cheese on top.
Cover with the remaining bread.
Spread the remaining béchamel over the top of the croque monsieur and sprinkle with the grated cheese.
Place in the oven and bake the croque-monsieur for about 10 minutes or until a golden, crunchy crust forms on the surface.
Plate and enjoy this made-in-France delight hot.
STORAGE
You can prepare the croque monsieur in advance and store them in the refrigerator or freeze them; when you want to eat them, put them directly in the oven.
