Croques Monsieurs

Name: Croques Monsieurs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: french
Ingredients: 5 1/2 tablespoons (80g) unsalted butter, plus more if necessary, divided; 1 1/2 tablespoons (12g) all-purpose flour; 1 cup (235ml) milk; 6 ounces (170g) grated Gruyère, Comté, or Swiss cheese, plus more if desired, divided; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 8 (1/4 inch thick) slices soft bread, such as brioche or good-quality sandwich bread; 8 ounces (225g) good-quality thinly sliced ham (about 16 slices); 4 teaspoons (20ml) Dijon mustard

4.30 (4)

⏱ 35 mins 🍽 Serves 4 🌶 french 🏷 Breakfast

This French toasted sandwich is a masterclass in balance, featuring golden toasted bread layered with thinly sliced ham and Gruyère cheese. The dish is enriched with a homemade Mornay sauce and a touch of Dijon mustard, then finished under the grill until bubbling and lightly browned. It's a satisfying choice for an entree, lunch, or brunch, ready in about 35 minutes.

Ingredients

5 1/2 tablespoons (80g) unsalted butter, plus more if necessary, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons (12g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (235ml) milk
6 ounces (170g) grated Gruyère, Comté, or Swiss cheese, plus more if desired, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 (1/4 inch thick) slices soft bread, such as brioche or good-quality sandwich bread
8 ounces (225g) good-quality thinly sliced ham (about 16 slices)
4 teaspoons (20ml) Dijon mustard

Method

Set your oven to 350°F (180°C). In a small saucepan, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter with the flour, cooking for about 1 minute until the raw flour smell disappears. Whisk in the milk until smooth and bring to a simmer, cooking for about 3 minutes until thickened. Whisk in 4 ounces of the grated cheese until melted, seasoning the Mornay sauce with salt and pepper. Keep it warm.
In a large cast iron skillet, toast each slice of bread in the remaining butter for about 2 minutes per side until golden, adding more butter if needed. Work in batches.
Place the toasted bread on a work surface. Layer the ham on half the slices, then spoon a generous amount of the warm Mornay sauce over the ham. Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese. Spread Dijon mustard on the other bread slices and use them to close the sandwiches. Cover the top of each sandwich with more Mornay sauce and extra cheese if you like.
Place the assembled sandwiches on a baking sheet and warm them in the oven until the cheese melts. Switch the oven to the broil setting and place the sandwiches on the top rack. Broil for about 2 minutes until the tops are lightly browned, watching them carefully. Serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium1756000 mg

Recipe details

CategoryBreakfast

Cuisinefrench

AuthorDaniel Gritzer