Croque Monsieur
Indulge in the classic French delight of a Croque Monsieur, the ultimate sandwich experience that’s equal parts decadent and comforting. This iconic recipe features layers of perfectly golden white bread, slathered with zesty Dijon mustard, and filled with savory slices of ham. The star of the dish is its creamy béchamel sauce, infused with nutmeg and melty Gruyère cheese, which coats the sandwich before it’s finished in the oven to achieve a bubbling, golden crust. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or a satisfying dinner, this quick and easy recipe combines rich flavors with sophisticated simplicity, making it a must-try for lovers of gourmet comfort food.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 0.125 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
- 8 slices white sandwich bread
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 8 slices ham, thinly sliced
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes, until a smooth paste forms.
Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Continue to whisk for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and season with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in half of the grated Gruyère cheese until melted and smooth.
Lay out the bread slices on a flat surface. Spread each slice evenly with Dijon mustard.
Distribute the ham slices evenly over 4 of the bread slices, then place the remaining bread slices on top to form sandwiches.
In a large skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the sandwiches to the skillet in batches, cooking until golden brown on each side, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Transfer the sandwiches to a baking sheet, and top each with the béchamel sauce, spreading it evenly over the top.
Sprinkle the remaining grated Gruyère cheese over the béchamel.
Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can broil for an additional minute if you like a more golden, crispy top.
Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, then serve warm.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2202 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 111.8 g | 143% | |
| Saturated Fat | 61.3 g | 306% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 314 mg | 105% | |
| Sodium | 5381 mg | 234% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 202.6 g | 74% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.7 g | 31% | |
| Total Sugars | 38.2 g | ||
| Protein | 91.9 g | 184% | |
| Vitamin D | 4.4 mcg | 22% | |
| Calcium | 1948 mg | 150% | |
| Iron | 11.5 mg | 64% | |
| Potassium | 1131 mg | 24% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
