Description
The Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame are classic French café sandwiches that combine crispy golden bread, savory ham, rich béchamel sauce, and melted cheese. The key difference between the two is the addition of a fried or poached egg on top of the Croque Madame, adding extra richness. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or a cozy dinner, these sandwiches are a must-try for lovers of French cuisine.
Ingredients
For the Croque Monsieur
Bread (Brioche or sourdough) – 2 slices
Ham (Parisian or smoked) – 2 slices
Gruyère or Emmental cheese (grated) – ½ cup
Butter – 2 tbsp
Dijon mustard – 1 tsp
Béchamel sauce – ½ cup
For the Croque Madame (Additional Ingredient)
Egg – 1 (fried or poached)
For the Béchamel Sauce
Butter – 2 tbsp
Flour – 2 tbsp
Milk – 1 cup
Salt – ½ tsp
Nutmeg – ¼ tsp
Black pepper – ¼ tsp
Instructions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat
Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden
Gradually add milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps
Season with salt, nutmeg, and black pepper
Cook until thickened, then remove from heat
Spread Dijon mustard on one slice of bread
Layer with ham and half of the grated cheese
Spread a thin layer of béchamel sauce on top
Top with the second slice of bread
Butter the outer sides of the sandwich
Toast in a pan over medium heat until golden brown on both sides
Place on a baking sheet, top with more béchamel sauce and the remaining cheese
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes until bubbly and golden
While the Croque Monsieur is baking, fry or poach an egg
Place the egg on top of the sandwich before serving
Notes
For extra crispiness, lightly toast the bread before assembling the sandwich
Use high-quality cheese like Gruyère for the best flavor
Cover the pan while toasting to help the cheese melt evenly
For a variation, swap the ham for smoked salmon or turkey
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-fried & Baked
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 650 kcal (Croque Madame), 550 kcal (Croque Monsieur)
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 220mg
Keywords: Croque Monsieur vs Croque Madame, French sandwiches, Croque Monsieur recipe, Croque Madame recipe