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Croque-Monsieur Sandwich Recipe

Croque-Monsieur Sandwich Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 28 reviews

A classic French Croque-Monsieur sandwich featuring layers of toasted rustic bread, savory ham, and melted Gruyère cheese, all smothered in a creamy béchamel sauce and broiled to bubbly perfection. This elegant yet simple sandwich is perfect for a satisfying lunch or a sophisticated snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Béchamel Sauce

  • 3 1/2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (reserve 1/2 tbsp for buttering the bread)
  • 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour (or substitute 1/4 tbsp Guar gum)
  • 2 – 2 1/2 cups Whole milk
  • 3 ounces Gruyère Cheese, grated (or substitute Swiss Cheese)
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 sprig Thyme, stem removed
  • 1/2 tablespoon Melted Unsalted Butter (reserved from béchamel sauce)

Sandwich Assembly

  • 8 slices Sandwich Bread (preferably rustic or traditional Brioche toast)
  • 8 slices Ham (Hillshire Farm® Premium Carved Meat or similar)
  • 8 – 10 ounces Gruyère Cheese, grated (or aged Swiss Cheese)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives or green onions

Instructions

  1. Make the béchamel sauce: Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Add the flour all at once and stir continuously with a wooden spoon for about 2 minutes to form a roux. Gradually add the milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  2. Thicken the sauce: Continue cooking the sauce, whisking frequently, until it thickens, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in salt, black pepper, grated Gruyère, Swiss cheese, and the sprig of thyme. Set aside to keep warm.
  3. Toast the bread: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet, lightly butter each slice with reserved unsalted butter, and toast them in the oven for a few minutes until golden brown. Alternatively, you can toast the bread using a toaster or oven broiler.
  4. Assemble the sandwiches: Remove toasted bread from the oven. Spread about 1 tablespoon of béchamel sauce evenly over half of the slices. Layer each with slices of ham and a generous amount of shredded Gruyère cheese. Top each with a second slice of toasted bread.
  5. Add toppings: Spread another tablespoon of béchamel sauce atop each sandwich’s top slice of bread, then sprinkle generously with the remaining shredded Gruyère cheese.
  6. Broil to finish: Turn on the oven broiler to high and place the baking sheet with assembled sandwiches under the broiler. Broil for approximately 2 minutes, or until the sauce bubbles and the cheese turns golden brown and bubbly. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
  7. Garnish and serve: Remove sandwiches from the oven, sprinkle with chopped fresh chives or green onions for a fresh finish. Slice each sandwich in half and serve immediately while hot and melty.

Notes

  • You can substitute Swiss cheese if Gruyère is unavailable, though Gruyère gives a richer flavor.
  • Using rustic or brioche bread adds texture and flavor; avoid soft sandwich bread for best results.
  • For a lighter option, use low-fat milk and reduce the butter slightly in the béchamel sauce.
  • To save time, toast the bread ahead of assembling the sandwich.
  • Keep a close eye while broiling to prevent the cheese from burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: Croque-Monsieur, French sandwich, Ham and cheese sandwich, Béchamel sauce, Gruyère cheese, toasted sandwich

Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/croque-monsieur-sandwich-recipe/