Description
This Croque Monsieur recipe is a classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a creamy béchamel sauce. It’s a perfect comfort food that’s great for breakfast, lunch, or a light dinner.
Ingredients
Units
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For the Béchamel Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk, scalded
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
For the Sandwich:
- 8 slices thick-cut white bread
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 12 slices Black Forest ham, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make Béchamel:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth.
- Add nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens.
- Taste and adjust salt as needed.
- Assemble Sandwiches:
- Lightly toast bread slices (optional).
- Spread 4 slices with béchamel sauce and the other 4 slices with Dijon mustard.
- Layer béchamel-side down on the baking sheet.
- Top each with Gruyère cheese, ham, and more Gruyère.
- Place remaining bread slices (mustard-side down) on top.
- Top and Bake:
- Spread sandwiches with remaining béchamel and sprinkle with more cheese and Herbes de Provence.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.
Notes
- Roux: Do not overcook the roux (butter and flour mixture) to avoid a burnt flavor.
- Milk: Use scalded milk for best results.
- Bechamel and Cheese: Be generous with the amounts for a richer flavor.
- Baking: Watch the sandwiches closely while broiling to prevent burning.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (176°C) until warmed through.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 600kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
