Croque-Monsieur (French Ham and Cheese Toast)
Local name: Croque-monsieur
In short: Toasted ham sandwiches layered with Gruyère and creamy béchamel, then baked until the cheese is bubbling and golden. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 640 kcal
The croque-monsieur is the French café's ham and cheese toastie, made richer with a spoonful of béchamel inside and a blanket of Gruyère on top. It is served in cafés and brasseries all day, usually with a green salad, and with a fried egg on top it becomes a croque-madame. At home it takes about 40 minutes and uses simple ingredients. Use good ham and a cheese that melts well.
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 minute without browning.
- Gradually whisk in the warm milk. Simmer, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes until thick, then season with the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Let it cool slightly.
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Butter one side of each bread slice and place four slices, butter side down, on a baking tray.
- Spread each with a little mustard and 1 tablespoon of béchamel, then top with a slice of ham and 25 g (1/4 cup) of the cheese.
- Close the sandwiches with the remaining bread, butter side up. Spread the rest of the béchamel over the tops and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden at the edges. Rest for 2 minutes, then serve with a green salad.
Tips
- Slightly dry bread holds the filling better. If your bread is very fresh, toast it lightly first.
- For a croque-madame, top each cooked sandwich with a fried egg. For a vegetarian version, use sautéed mushrooms in place of the ham.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between croque-monsieur and croque-madame?
A croque-madame is a croque-monsieur topped with a fried egg. The sandwich underneath is the same.
Can I make croque-monsieur ahead of time?
Assemble the sandwiches up to 6 hours ahead, cover and refrigerate, then bake just before serving. Add 3 to 4 minutes if they go in cold.
What cheese goes best in a croque-monsieur?
Gruyère is traditional. Emmental, Comté or a mild Cheddar also melt well.
How long does it take to make Croque-Monsieur (French Ham and Cheese Toast)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Croque-Monsieur (French Ham and Cheese Toast)?
About 640 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 42 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 640 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
