Description
A golden, bubbling French classic, the Croque Monsieur with Béchamel combines toasted bread, savory ham, nutty Gruyère cheese, and a creamy béchamel sauce for an indulgent yet elegant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk, gently warmed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 8 slices white bread
- 4 slices ham, thinly sliced
- 2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Heat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Combine Ingredients: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, cook briefly. Gradually add warm milk, whisking until smooth. Season with salt, nutmeg, and stir in ½ cup Gruyère.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Lightly toast bread slices in a toaster or under the broiler.
- Assemble the Dish: Spread Dijon mustard (optional) on half the bread, top with ham, sprinkle cheese, and place another slice of bread on top. Spoon béchamel generously over each sandwich.
- Cook to Perfection: Place sandwiches on baking sheet, top with remaining cheese, bake 15 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Finishing Touches: Broil for 1–2 minutes for a crisp golden crust.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice diagonally and serve warm.
Notes
- Use day-old bread to avoid sogginess.
- Grate cheese fresh for the best melt.
- Prepare béchamel a day ahead to save time.
- Don’t over-salt, since ham and cheese already bring plenty of flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg