Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (2024)

Recipes Dish Type Sandwich and Wrap Recipes

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (1)

Eric Ngo/Tasting Table

ByEric NgoandTasting Table Staff/

A croque monsieur is a classic French sandwich that is basically a cross between a ham and cheese and a grilled cheese. Basically, it's a grilled cheese with ham, only with a little added je ne sais quoi because, of course, it's French. The name literally translates to bite mister, which sounds like a rude thing to say — maybe it's the French equivalent of "Bite me, dude!" It isn't meant that way at all though. According to Culture Trip, a croque monsieur is in fact intended to be a gentleman's sandwich which sounds far classier.

These days, according to recipe developer Eric Ngo, "Croque monsieur is often served in typical Parisian brasseries," although it can be found in bistros and cafes as well. Ngo characterizes his version of the sandwich as beginner level, but be aware that you may need some intermediate saucier skills to create the perfect béchamel.

Gather the ingredients for this classic croque monsieur

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (2)

Eric Ngo/Tasting Table

To make a croque monsieur, you'll typically be using white bread. You'll also need ham –- if you're using the thin-sliced deli kind as Ngo does, you'll need about two slices per sandwich. Ngo favors Gruyère cheese for this preparation and tells us, "Comté and Gruyère cheese are the most common cheeses used for croque monsieur." However, he adds that "You could make [a] croque monsieur with any hard [or] semi-hard cheeses that melt well, such as mozzarella." He also tells us, "The amount of cheese is very flexible; it really comes down to personal preference."Ngo likes to top his croque monsieur sandwich with béchamel sauce to give it some additional flavor. This sauce, one of the staples of French cooking, is made with milk (he favors whole milk), butter, and flour.

It all begins with béchamel

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (3)

Eric Ngo/Tasting Table

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. After it has melted but before it starts to brown, turn the heat down to low and stir in the flour all at once. Keep stirring for 1 minute as it cooks before adding the milk. Pour the milk in gradually, stirring all the while. Cook and keep stirring until the sauce starts to thicken. At this point, add ½ cup of cheese along with the black pepper and salt if using. The salt may not be necessary as Ngo points out that "The ham is often already salted." Stir until the cheese melts, then let the sauce cool down a bit.

Assemble the sandwiches

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (4)

Eric Ngo/Tasting Table

As the béchamel is cooling, preheat the oven to 430 F and toast the bread in a toaster or toaster oven. Ngo says that toasting the bread "[helps] hold the sandwich better and give it more structure." He explains that the croque monsieur may wind up being too softif you don't toast the bread.

Once the toast is ready, set out two of the slices and spread a generous layer of béchamel across the surface.Top the saucy sides with two slices of ham and ½ cup of cheese each before finishing them off with another slice of toast. Place the two sandwiches in a baking pan and use the remaining béchamel and grated cheese to top them off.

Bake, then broil the croque monsieur sandwiches

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (5)

Eric Ngo/Tasting Table

Bake the sandwiches for 10 minutes, then turn the oven up to broil and cook them for another 2 minutes. Ngo reminds us to be careful when setting the oven to broil, saying, "Make sure you keep an eye on it as it can burn your croque monsieur!"

Once the sandwiches are cooked, they should be eaten right away. If you're looking to pair your croque monsieur with a side, Ngo says this dish is "often served with a green salad." A nice glass of vin rouge wouldn't go amiss, either!

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe

5 from 64 ratings

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A croque monsieur is a classic French dish that doubles as the perfect comfort food. What's not to love about a cheesy toasted ham sandwich with béchamel?

Prep Time

5

minutes

Cook Time

20

minutes

Servings

2

servings

Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (6)

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 slices white bread, toasted
  • 4 slices ham
  • 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese, divided
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Optional Ingredients

  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of pepper

Directions

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat.
  2. Once the butter has melted, turn the heat down to low and add the flour all at once.
  3. Cook while stirring for 1 minute.
  4. Gradually add the milk and cook while stirring until the sauce thickens.
  5. Add the salt and pepper if using and ½ cup of grated cheese to the sauce.
  6. Stir until the cheese is fully incorporated.
  7. Set the sauce aside to cool down.
  8. Preheat the oven to 430 F.
  9. Toast the bread in a toaster.
  10. Spread two pieces of toast generously with béchamel sauce on one side.
  11. Cover the sauce with ham, ½ cup of cheese, and a second slice of bread.
  12. Top the sandwiches with the remaining béchamel sauce and cheese.
  13. Bake the sandwiches for 10 minutes, then turn the oven up to broil and cook for another 2 minutes.

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Classic Croque Monsieur Recipe - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a croque madame and a croque monsieur? ›

A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur with a poached or fried egg on top. The difference between the two sandwiches has to do with how the egg is incorporated into the rest of the ingredients: In a croque monsieur, the bread is dipped into the beaten egg before it's cooked (French toast-style).

What ingredient does a croque madame have that is not in a croque monsieur? ›

A Croque Monsieur is a French ham and cheese dish on buttered bread. It's often served as a sandwich, with the cheese and ham melted into the bread by gently browning the outside of the sandwich. A Croque Madame is similar, but it has an egg on top of it.

What does croque monsieur mean in English? ›

A croque monsieur (French pronunciation: [kʁɔk məsjø]) is a hot sandwich made with ham and cheese. The name comes from the French words croque ("crunch") and monsieur ("gentleman").

What is an interesting fact about the croque monsieur? ›

What is known is that the sandwich was first mentioned in print in Proust's In Search of Lost Time, in 1918, though croque monsieurs were being served in Parisian cafes as early as 1910. The name comes from the French word "croquer", meaning "to bite".

Is a Monte Cristo sandwich the same as a croque monsieur? ›

A Monte Cristo sandwich is a variation of the croque monsieur, but with the addition of sliced turkey added the ham and Swiss cheese. Also, this sandwich is dipped in an egg batter, like French toast, and pan-fried instead of grilled, until golden brown.

What can I use instead of gruyere in a croque monsieur? ›

If you can't find Gruyere then Emmenthal would be a good substitute. However if neither of these cheeses are available in your area then we suggest using a combination of half mature (sharp) cheddar and half firm mozzarella, to give stretchy, stringily melting cheese with a good flavour.

Do French people eat croque monsieur? ›

But it is the French who make the biggest fuss about their ham and cheese toasted sandwich. They don't call it that, of course. They call it a croque monsieur (which translates roughly as mister crunch) and it is the mainstay of French snack bar menus.

What does croque mean in English from French? ›

croquer (manger):

to crunch.

Is a croque monsieur unhealthy? ›

The traditional Croque Monsieur sandwich clocks in at over 800 calories. This skinnied down version has 340 calories and it's got the added nutrition from cauliflower in the cream sauce. This was a big hit with my kids and they had no idea there was cauliflower in this sandwich.

Do you eat a croque monsieur with a fork? ›

Croque monsieur is meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, as the French do. That way you can eat it when the cheese is still hot and gooey. If you'd like to make some changes, I could see replacing the ham with bacon or sautéed mushrooms, though you couldn't technically call it a croque monsieur.

What country is croque monsieur from? ›

France's most famous sandwich, the croque monsieur, is one such dish. On the surface, it's nothing more than a warm ham and cheese sandwich. But the croque monsieur is a perfectly harmonious and delightfully decadent sandwich, and its preparation is something of an art.

What's added atop a croque monsieur? ›

Croque Monsieur is a hot ham and cheese sandwich, done the French way! Béchamel sauce, ham, cheese and a smear of Dijon mustard, grilled until it's oozing, this sandwich is the king of grilled cheeses!

What does croque monsieur contain? ›

Croque Monsieur is a delicious French ham and cheese sandwich made with gruyere, parmesan, ham and a simple béchamel sauce, toasted in the oven. Serve with a green salad and a small cup of French Onion Soup and you have the perfect Parisian meal!

Where is croque monsieur popular? ›

The Croque Monsieur is France's most popular sandwich and a true French classic. And because it is French, it is of course not as simple as putting a slice of ham and cheese between two pieces of bread. (Though the simpler ham and cheese sandwich is generally available from your local Boulangerie / bakery.)

What cheese is traditionally used in a croque monsieur reddit? ›

As for some tips: Make sure you have good quality ham and bread and a nice melty cheese (gruyere is traditional, but a good American style swiss cheese is tasty too) and it will come out great, I'm sure. Also, make the bechamel a bit on the thick side so it doesn't drench the bread and browns up nicer.

What is a Monte Cristo sandwich made of? ›

It's a fried sandwich with ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and mustard dipped in beaten egg and pan-fried until golden and gooey for a delicious alternative to your usual ham and cheese sandwich. Great with berry jam on the side.

What is the difference between Madame and Monsieur? ›

French honorifics are based on the wide use of Madame for women and Monsieur for men.

References

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