Description
A classic French Croque Monsieur sandwich featuring layers of ham and cheese, topped with a creamy béchamel sauce and broiled to perfection. This easy Croque Monsieur recipe is a comforting and elegant choice for lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices of white sandwich bread
- 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 4 slices of thick-cut ham
- 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for béchamel)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk (warmed)
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the Béchamel Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly to form a roux. Slowly add warm milk, whisking until smooth and thickened (about 3-4 minutes). Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Set aside.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Spread Dijon mustard on 4 slices of bread. Layer with ham and half of the grated Gruyère. Top with another slice of bread.
- Spread and Toast: Lightly butter the outsides of the sandwiches. In a skillet over medium heat, toast each sandwich until golden and crispy on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Bake with Béchamel: Preheat your oven’s broiler. Transfer the toasted sandwiches to a baking sheet. Spoon béchamel over each sandwich and sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère cheese.
- Broil: Place the sandwiches under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots, about 3-5 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- This Croque Monsieur sandwich can be customized with different types of cheese or additional fillings.
- Serve with a side salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking and Grilling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
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