With this delicious Croque Monsieur recipe you will enjoy an amazingly crispy and soft sandwich, easy and quick to prepare, that both adults and kids will love!
Let’s dive into the history of this famous french sandwich and the details of its recipe.
What is a Croque Monsieur?
It is a dish composed of two slices of sandwich bread between which ham covered with cheese has been placed and which is placed in the oven.
What are the origins of the Croque monsieur sandwich?
It was born in Paris, symbol of French street food. There is however an ancestor to our “croque-monsieur”, we find it among the nomadic aborigines of Australia who use to cook their hunt by pressing it between two slices of dough over a wood fire.
When was the croque monsieur invented?
The term “Croque Monsieur” is said to have appeared for the first time in 1901, in a Parisian café called “Le Bel Age”, located on the Boulevard des Capucines.
How was the Croque Monsieur invented?
One day when there was a shortage of baguette bread at the “Bel Age” bistrot, Michel Lucarna, the owner of the café, served a sandwich made of soft bread to his customers. One of them, asked “Michel, what’s the meat inside the sandwich?”. The answer of the owner “Monsieur’s meat of course”, made the entire bistrot laugh and all wanted to taste the “Monsieur” sandwich. The day after the bistrot added the “Croque-Monsieur” to its menu.
What are the ingredients?
The ingredients of the croque monsieur, also called by many croque misure recipe, are very simple and easy to find at the store if not already available in your kitchen.
Bread
Bread will be the main ingredient of the croque monsieur recipe, it has to be quite firm, so that the bread does not break while applying the moist bechamel sauce (white sauce) on it. It can be white soft bread or even brown soft bread for a healthier version. Both are perfectly good and will give the same tasty result.
White sauce
The sauce is an important ingredient of the croque misure recipe as it will give its creaminess and the moist to the sandwich. Nothing better than a white sauce in a sandwich, right? 🙂
Cheese
You can used any kind of cheese available, it should have a subtle taste though, not to strong so it does not take over the other ingredient’s .
Ham
Better quality is the ham better will taste the croque monsieur. I prefer buying the ham directly by weight. This way I can choose the thickness of the slices and it is so much fresher.
Preparation
First, prepare all the ingredients. It will then be as easy as preparing any other sandwich, adding layers one by one.
For the cooking part, although I find the oven option easier and tasty, there are several options to cook it.
First method: with a suitable device, the sandwich is placed in between two hot plates which allow it to be pressed. It is a very good way to cook it.
Second method: In a hot pan with butter
While choose your pan, always make sure to cook with a stainless pan. Non sticky pans are filled up with dangerous chemicals.
Third method: In the oven.
Now that we know everything about this croque monsieur recipe, let’s see check out the ingredients and steps to make this delicious sandwich.
Want other easy and delicious recipe ideas? Check them here
Croque monsieur recipe
We all love this easy, delicious soft, cheesy and crispy recipe of the croque monsieur sandwich.
Ingredients
For the White sauce (Sauce bechamel)
Instructions
Bechamel Preparation
Melt the butter in a pot on a low flame, once melted, add the flour.
Once the mixture does not stick the pot, add the milk progressively while stirring constantly with a whisk (to avoid lumps).
Add the nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Continue stirring, while letting it boil until it thickens.
For extra yum, peel and crush a garlic clove or two and add it to the sauce!Let it cool down.
Croque Monsieur Preparation
Spread a good layer of bechamel sauce on each slice of bread.
On half the bread slices Add a good layer of cheese on the sauce
Then add the ham on the cheese
- Cover the ham with the other slice of bread, the side spread with the sauce against the ham. And press well to close the croque monsieur.
- Spread small layer of bechamel sauce on the top of each croque-monsieur. Add a small amount of cheese to finish with.
Place the croque monsieur on a baking tray covered with baking paper
Put it in the oven at a medium high height at a temperature of 428 °F /220°C.
Let it grill for around 12/15 minutes until they become golden.
Serve with some seasoned salad.
Enjoy the Yum!
Note
Try it and let me know in the comments!
Looks good will try it out this week end!