Croque-Monsieur
Croque-Monsieur is a beloved French sandwich that layers savory smoked ham and rich Gruyère cheese between crispy slices of sourdough bread, all draped in a velvety béchamel sauce. This delightful dish is perfect for any meal—brunch, lunch, or dinner—and is sure to impress with its comforting flavors and satisfying crunch. Experience the taste of Paris right at home with this easy-to-follow recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2
- Category: Main
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 4 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 4 oz smoked ham
- 1 cup béchamel sauce (made from 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, and 1 cup milk)
- 2 tbsp butter for spreading
Instructions
- 1. Prepare your ingredients: Gather sourdough bread, Gruyère cheese, ham, béchamel sauce, and butter.
- 2. Make the béchamel sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour for one minute. Gradually add milk while whisking until thickened.
- 3. Assemble the sandwich: Spread béchamel on one side of each slice of bread. Top half with ham and Gruyère; cap with remaining slices (sauce side down).
- 4. Butter the outside: Spread softened butter on both sides of each sandwich.
- 5. Grill: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook sandwiches until golden brown, about three minutes per side.
- 6. Serve hot: Slice diagonally if desired and drizzle with extra béchamel sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich (200g)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: - For added flavor, mix herbs into your béchamel sauce or try different cheeses like Emmental or Comté. - To make it vegetarian, substitute the ham with roasted vegetables or sautéed mushrooms.