Description
A classic French Croque Monsieur recipe featuring layers of ham, Gruyère cheese, and creamy béchamel sauce sandwiched between thick-cut bread, baked to golden perfection for a rich and indulgent meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Béchamel Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk, scalded
- â…› teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Sandwich
- 8 slices thick-cut white bread
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 12 slices Black Forest ham, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the sandwiches.
- Make Béchamel Sauce: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the unsalted butter. Once melted, whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to form a roux.
- Add Milk and Seasonings: Gradually whisk in the warm scalded milk until the mixture is smooth. Add the ground nutmeg, salt, and white pepper, continuing to cook and whisk frequently for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Optionally, lightly toast the bread slices. Spread béchamel sauce on four slices of bread and Dijon mustard on the remaining four slices. Place the béchamel-coated slices béchamel-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Add Fillings: On each béchamel-coated bread slice, layer shredded Gruyère cheese, then Black Forest ham slices, and top with more Gruyère cheese.
- Complete Assembly: Place the remaining mustard-coated bread slices on top of each sandwich, mustard-side down.
- Top and Bake: Spread the remaining béchamel sauce over the tops of the sandwiches, sprinkle with additional Gruyère cheese, and dust with Herbes de Provence.
- Bake and Broil: Bake the sandwiches in the oven for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Then switch to broil for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to achieve a golden brown and bubbly cheese crust. Remove from oven and serve warm.
Notes
- Lightly toasting the bread before assembling helps prevent sogginess and adds texture.
- Béchamel sauce can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm for convenience.
- Adjust the amount of ham and cheese based on your preference for a lighter or more indulgent sandwich.
- Watch carefully during the broiling step to avoid burning the cheese topping.
- Serve with a simple green salad or pickles to balance the richness of the sandwich.
