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Croque-Monsieur sliced in half and garnished with sliced parsley.

Croque Monsieur (Authentic Parisian Recipe)

Jack Slobodian
If you've ever walked the streets of Paris and tried a croque monsieur, get ready for a wave of nostalgia.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Snack
Cuisine French
Servings 4 People
Calories 610 kcal

Equipment

  • Small Saucepan
  • Large Sauté Pan
  • Baking Tray

Ingredients
 
 

  • 8 slices Pain de Mie (good quality white bread)
  • 8 slices Jambon de Paris (good quality ham)
  • 7 oz Gruyère sliced
  • 4 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
  • 4 knobs Butter for cooking

Béchamel Sauce (Optional)

  • 1 oz Butter
  • 1 oz Flour
  • 10 fl oz Milk (about 1 ¼ cups)
  • 1 pinch Nutmeg freshly grated
  • Sea salt

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven:

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Prepare the Béchamel Sauce (Optional):

  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and stir continuously for 2-3 minutes to create a smooth roux with no lumps.
  • Gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly until all the milk is incorporated and the sauce is smooth.
  • Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then remove it from the heat. Season with freshly grated nutmeg and sea salt to taste. Cover the béchamel with a lid or cling film to prevent a skin from forming until ready to use.

Assemble the Sandwiches:

  • Lay out 4 slices of bread on a cutting board. Spread 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard evenly over each slice, making sure to reach the edges.
  • Place 2 slices of ham and a portion of the Gruyère cheese on each mustard-covered slice.
  • Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread to form 4 sandwiches.

Cook the Sandwiches:

  • In a large sauté pan, melt a knob of butter over medium heat. Add 2 sandwiches to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy.
  • Transfer the browned sandwiches to a baking tray. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches, adding more butter as needed.

Bake the Sandwiches:

  • Spread a layer of béchamel sauce over the top of each sandwich, extending to the edges.
  • Top each sandwich with the remaining Gruyère cheese.
  • Place the baking tray in the preheated oven and bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve:

  • Serve the croque monsieur hot, straight from the oven.

Notes

Variation: To make a Croque Madame, top each sandwich with a fried egg before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 610kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 35gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 1394mgPotassium: 391mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 711mgIron: 3mg
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