Croque Monsieur
A classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich, elevated with a rich béchamel sauce and topped with melted Gruyère. For a Croque Madame, simply add a fried egg on top.
🧂 Ingredients
- 8 slices White bread(Brioche or pain de mie work exceptionally well for their soft texture and ability to hold up to the sauce.)
- 8 slices Cooked ham(Good quality, thinly sliced cooked ham is recommended.)
- 200 g Gruyère cheese(Grated. Emmental or Comté can be substituted, but Gruyère offers the best nutty flavor.)
- 60 g Unsalted butter(Divided: 30g for béchamel, 30g for toasting the bread.)
- 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
- 300 ml Whole milk(Warmed slightly to prevent lumps in the béchamel.)
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp Salt(Or to taste.)
- 1/8 tsp Black pepper(Freshly ground, or to taste.)
- pinch Nutmeg(Freshly grated, optional but traditional for béchamel.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Béchamel Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 30g of butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it forms a pale paste (a roux). Do not let it brown. Gradually whisk in the warmed milk, a little at a time, ensuring no lumps form. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens to a smooth, creamy consistency, coating the back of a spoon. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in half of the grated Gruyère cheese (100g), salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Assemble the Sandwiches: Lightly toast all 8 slices of bread on one side under a broiler or in a toaster. Spread Dijon mustard evenly on the untoasted side of 4 slices of bread. Layer 2 slices of ham on top of the mustard. Top the ham with another slice of bread (untoasted side up).
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Sauce and Top: Generously spoon the béchamel sauce over the top slice of each sandwich, ensuring it covers the bread and drips slightly down the sides. Sprinkle the remaining grated Gruyère cheese over the béchamel. Butter the untoasted side of the remaining 4 slices of bread and place them, butter-side up, on top of the cheese-covered sandwiches.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 4
Grill the Sandwiches: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) or set your broiler to high. Place the assembled sandwiches on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or broil for 3-5 minutes, watching carefully, until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted. For an even crispier exterior, you can lightly butter the top of the sandwiches before baking/broiling.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 5
Serve: Carefully remove the Croque Monsieur from the oven. Let them rest for a minute before serving immediately. They are best enjoyed hot.
⏱️ 2 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For an extra rich sandwich, you can lightly butter the outside of the bread before grilling.
- ✓Ensure your béchamel is thick enough to coat the sandwich without being too runny.
- ✓Don't skip toasting the bread; it prevents the sandwich from becoming soggy.
- ✓For a Croque Madame, fry an egg sunny-side up and place it on top of the finished Croque Monsieur just before serving.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Croque Madame: Top with a fried egg.
- Croque Monsieur Forestier: Add sautéed mushrooms to the ham layer.
- Croque Monsieur Bolognaise: Add a thin layer of bolognese sauce.
- Vegetarian Croque: Omit ham and add thinly sliced tomatoes or sautéed spinach.