If you've ever stopped for a snack while exploring Paris, you have probably seen Croque Monsieur written on the menu. This tried and true sandwich is one of France's most famous and representative dishes and is just the thing to pick you up as you explore the City of Lights. However, as travel to Paris and France is not quite yet possible for most of us at the moment, it might be a while until you can bite into one between greeting the Mona Lisa and climbing the Eiffel Tower. Fear not, though, we've got a handy recipe for the beloved French favourite so that you can make it at home and bring a little bit of Paris into the safety of your own kitchen!
The Croque Monsieur is a hot cheese and ham sandwich that originated in French cafés and bars as a quick snack. Named for the verb “croquer”, which means, “to bite,” or , “to crunch”, and the word “monsieur,” meaning, “mister,” its first recorded mention is on a Paris café menu from 1910.
The Croque Monsieur is a hot cheese and ham sandwich that originated in French cafés and bars as a quick snack. Named for the verb “croquer”, which means, “to bite,” or , “to crunch”, and the word “monsieur,” meaning, “mister,” its first recorded mention is on a Paris café menu from 1910.
Made with baked or boiled ham and sliced cheese (traditionally Emmental or Gruyère but sometimes Comté is used as well) that is placed between slices of brioche-like pain de mie and then topped with grated cheese and slightly salted and peppered before being baked in an oven or fried in a pan, the sandwich has endless different little tips and tricks that different chefs, eateries, and families employ; some grill the bread and then dip it in beaten egg, some add Béchamel sauce, and some bake or fry the sandwich so that the cheese topping melts and forms a crust.
In addition to the variations in how the Croque Monsieur itself is made, the Croque Monsieur has birthed many other, similar sandwiches. Among these, the Croque Madame is the most famous, which is much the same but served with a poached or lightly fried egg on top. Other variants include the Monte Cristo, which is additionally dipped in egg batter and fried in butter; the Croque Provençal, which adds tomato into the sandwich; and the Croque Auvergnat, which adds Bleu d'Auvergne cheese, to name but a few.
However, the most famous and beloved off all of these remains the Croque Monsieur. Follow our recipe and make it for yourself so you can see what all the fuss is about as you look ahead to a holiday in France, hopefully, sometime soon...
Ingredients:
2 slices of crusty bread
2 slices of ham
2 slices of Emmental or Gruyère (and a little extra, grated)
1 egg
To make the Béchamel sauce:
12g of butter
12g of flour
125ml of milk
1tsp of dijon mustard
A pinch of ground nutmeg can be added optionally
Method:
1. Start by making the Béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a small pan and slowly add the flour while stirring over a medium heat until smooth and blended. Then gradually add the milk, whisking all the while to maintain a smooth consistency. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened and then add the mustard, the nutmeg (only if you are using it), and salt and pepper to taste. Once complete, set to one side for later.
2. Take the two slices of bread and lightly brush with butter. Grill until lightly toasted. Remove from grill and preheat an oven to 200C.
3. Flip the bread to the unbuttered side. Spread the sauce evenly over the slices, leaving a little bit extra. Add the cheese slices and then the ham. Spread the leftover sauce over the top of the sandwich and sprinkle with the grated cheese.
4. Put in the oven and bake for ten to fifteen minutes, until golden. Serve hot and enjoy while dreaming of your next getaway in France!
In addition to the variations in how the Croque Monsieur itself is made, the Croque Monsieur has birthed many other, similar sandwiches. Among these, the Croque Madame is the most famous, which is much the same but served with a poached or lightly fried egg on top. Other variants include the Monte Cristo, which is additionally dipped in egg batter and fried in butter; the Croque Provençal, which adds tomato into the sandwich; and the Croque Auvergnat, which adds Bleu d'Auvergne cheese, to name but a few.
However, the most famous and beloved off all of these remains the Croque Monsieur. Follow our recipe and make it for yourself so you can see what all the fuss is about as you look ahead to a holiday in France, hopefully, sometime soon...
Ingredients:
2 slices of crusty bread
2 slices of ham
2 slices of Emmental or Gruyère (and a little extra, grated)
1 egg
To make the Béchamel sauce:
12g of butter
12g of flour
125ml of milk
1tsp of dijon mustard
A pinch of ground nutmeg can be added optionally
Method:
1. Start by making the Béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a small pan and slowly add the flour while stirring over a medium heat until smooth and blended. Then gradually add the milk, whisking all the while to maintain a smooth consistency. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened and then add the mustard, the nutmeg (only if you are using it), and salt and pepper to taste. Once complete, set to one side for later.
2. Take the two slices of bread and lightly brush with butter. Grill until lightly toasted. Remove from grill and preheat an oven to 200C.
3. Flip the bread to the unbuttered side. Spread the sauce evenly over the slices, leaving a little bit extra. Add the cheese slices and then the ham. Spread the leftover sauce over the top of the sandwich and sprinkle with the grated cheese.
4. Put in the oven and bake for ten to fifteen minutes, until golden. Serve hot and enjoy while dreaming of your next getaway in France!