5 from 24 votes
Croque Monsieur Sandwich
The Croque Monsieur Sandwich is a layered toasted sandwich of ham and gruyere cheese with a creamy béchamel sauce. The sandwich is baked until the cheese melts and browns, creating a rich, creamy, and slightly crisp texture. The béchamel is infused with aromatics like onion, cloves, and thyme for depth of flavor, making this a savory, indulgent snack or light meal.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
12
sandwiches
Course:
Breakfast, Snacks, Brunch
Cuisine:
French
Ingredients
- 24 lices white sandwich bread
- 24 lices ham sliced or about 3 cups shredded
- 12 oz gruyere cheese grated
- 2 cups milk full fat
- 1/2 onion
- 5 clove whole
- pinch nutmeg
- pinch ground white pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 prig thyme
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp butter unsalted
- salt pinch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F
Cup of Yum
For the Béchamel:
- Make an onion piquet by piercing the cloves into a half an onion. Then add it to a pot over low heat with the butter to melt. Let the onion sweat with the butter a few minutes.
- Then add the milk, the spices, bay leaf and the sprig of thyme and bring to a low simmer.
- When the milk simmers, remove the herbs and the onion, and discard. Then, add the flour and whisk rapidly to avoid lumping. Whisk until the sauce thickens and coats the back of the spoon.
Assembling the Sandwiches:
- Layer half of the bread on a sheet or roasting pan.
- Add a thin layer of béchamel to the bread (spread it like butter with a spatula). Then arrange the ham, then the cheese, ladle in some more of the béchamel on top of the cheese, and then top with the second slice of bread. Finish with another generous layer of cheese on top and bake until the cheese is melted and golden.