Name: Croque Monsieur
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 White Bread, slices; 80 g Ham, thinly sliced; 90 g Gruyère Cheese, grated, divided; 1½ tbsp Butter, divided; 1 tbsp All-Purpose Flour; 160 ml Milk, warm; 1 tsp Dijon Mustard; 1 pinch Nutmeg Powder; ¼ tsp Black Peppercorns, freshly crushed; to taste Salt

35 mintotal

Prep 15 min · Cook 20 min

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Spice: None

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Method

Melt part of the measured butter in a small pan. Stir in the measured flour and cook briefly until it smells lightly toasted but does not brown.
Whisk in the warm milk gradually to make a smooth béchamel. Season with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg powder, then cook until lightly thickened.
Spread Dijon mustard on the bread slices. Layer the ham and part of the grated Gruyère cheese between the slices to form sandwiches.
Toast the sandwiches in the remaining measured butter until both sides are golden and the cheese inside begins to melt.
Place the sandwiches on a baking tray, spoon the béchamel over the top, and finish with the remaining Gruyère cheese.
Bake or broil at 220°C until the top is bubbling and lightly golden. Serve hot.

How to tell it's done

The sandwich should be crisp at the edges, creamy on top, and melted in the center.

Getting it right

Tip

Keep the béchamel smooth and just thick enough to coat the top without running off completely.

What to serve it with

Serve with a green salad or a small bowl of soup for a café-style meal.

Common mistakes

The sandwich becomes soggy under the sauce.: Toast both sides before adding béchamel, and keep the sauce thick enough to coat without flooding the bread.

Substitutions

Gruyère Cheese can be replaced with Cheddar Cheese, but the flavor will be sharper and less traditional.
Brown Bread can replace White Bread for a more robust texture.
Dijon Mustard may be reduced for a milder sandwich.
Ham is a pork product; use only a suitable alternative after checking dietary and cultural requirements.

Storing and reheating

Croque monsieur is best eaten immediately. Refrigerate leftovers for 1 day and reheat in an oven or air fryer; freezing is not recommended.

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Ingredients