Croque Monsieur Bake Nigella Lawson
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with Nigella Lawson's Croque Monsieur Bake—a heavenly take on the classic French sandwich. This easy-to-make recipe transforms simple ingredients like slightly stale white bread, cooked ham, and creamy Gruyère cheese into a savory, golden-baked delight. Perfectly layered with a rich, nutmeg-scented béchamel sauce and topped with a crisp Parmesan crust, this dish delivers gourmet flavor with minimal effort. Ideal for brunch gatherings or a cozy family dinner, this baked Croque Monsieur combines the irresistible gooeyness of melted cheese with the satisfying crunch of toasted bread. Ready in just under an hour, it’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that’s as elegant as it is indulgent!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 slices White bread (preferably slightly stale)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 4 slices Cooked ham
- 150 grams Gruyère cheese, grated
- 50 grams Butter
- 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 300 milliliters Whole milk
- 0.25 teaspoons Nutmeg, freshly grated
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 0.5 teaspoons Black pepper, freshly ground
- 30 grams Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) and grease a medium-sized baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
Butter one side of each slice of bread and spread the Dijon mustard evenly over the unbuttered side of 4 of the slices.
Place one slice of ham on top of the mustard side of each of the 4 slices, then sprinkle about half of the Gruyère cheese on top. Close with the remaining 4 slices of bread, butter-side out, to form sandwiches.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly, to make a roux.
Gradually pour in the milk, whisking continuously, until the béchamel sauce is smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the nutmeg, salt, pepper, and remaining Gruyère cheese (about 75 grams).
Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally and arrange the halves snugly in the prepared baking dish.
Pour the béchamel sauce evenly over the sandwiches, ensuring all the bread is covered. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top for extra crispness.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy the gooey, cheesy decadence of this baked Croque Monsieur.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
545 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 32.9 g | 42% | |
| Saturated Fat | 18.0 g | 90% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 100 mg | 33% | |
| Sodium | 1494 mg | 65% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.4 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.4 g | 5% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.8 g | ||
| Protein | 28.4 g | 57% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.4 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 582 mg | 45% | |
| Iron | 2.3 mg | 13% | |
| Potassium | 282 mg | 6% | |
*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.
