Description
A rich and satisfying authentic French croque monsieur recipe made with ham, Gruyère cheese, béchamel sauce, and toasted bread.
Ingredients
4 slices white sandwich bread or pain de mie
4 slices quality ham (such as Parisian or Black Forest)
1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus more for toasting bread)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional: 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan or Emmental for topping
Instructions
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in Dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Add half the Gruyère to the sauce and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
Butter one side of each slice of bread and toast in a skillet until golden.
On the untoasted side of two slices, spread a layer of béchamel.
Add a slice or two of ham, a little more béchamel, and top with the second slice of bread, toasted side up.
Spread remaining béchamel on top of the sandwich and sprinkle with remaining Gruyère.
Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
Serve hot, optionally topped with fresh herbs.
Notes
Use thick-cut bread for better structure. Gruyère is traditional, but Emmental or Comté can be used. For a Croque Madame, top with a fried egg.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked and Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg