Croque Monsieur

Let’s Make a Homemade Croque Monsieur, Oui?

Before we get out our knife and fork for this sandwich, we should address what is croque monsieur? It is essentially a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, but made even better with a layer of thick and creamy béchamel sauce. When we think about the pronunciation of croque monsieur, we imagine Steve Martin in The Pink Panther, trying to pronounce “hamburger.” With that in mind, the best we can recommend for ordering a croque monsieur on your next French vacation is to try this out: croak muh-syur. And If you liked it then you shoulda put an egg on it–that is, in the croque monsieur vs croque madame conversation, the sandwiches are one and the same but a Croque Madame has a fried egg on top!

Sandwiches For Every Occasion

While we believe a glorious croque monsieur is the perfect sandwich, we have a few other great sandwich recipes we like to have up our sleeves. Like the French Dip Sandwich or Meatball Sub Sandwich, when you’re looking for a hearty, two-hand sandwich. Diner classics like The Best Egg Salad Sandwich, Patty Melt, and this Reuben Sandwich call for a side of chips and soda pop. If you’d like to take a real flavor journey, we recommend the Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich or our Pineapple Pulled Pork Sandwich recipes.

How To Make Croque Monsieur

1. Make the béchamel sauce. Béchamel is one of the cornerstone sauce recipes in French cuisine, called the “mother sauces”, and is made of flour, butter, and milk mixture.

2. Build the sandwiches. Butter the outside of the bread slices, and pile the ham and grated cheese onto the bread, closing the sandwich with the other slice of buttered bread. What cheese is traditionally used in a croque monsieur? Our recipe calls for the classic Gruyère, but Comte or Emmental are also commonly used.

3. Bake the sandwiches in the oven for about twelve minutes, flipping halfway through.

4. Top the sandwiches with the béchamel sauce and return to the oven for another toast, this time under the broiler. Cook until nice and bubbly and brown, about four minutes max.

5. Serve these sandwiches warm, with a sprinkle of chives, fresh thyme, and black pepper, if desired.

Tell Me More About The French Croque Monsieur

Sometimes it’s difficult to translate precisely from French to English, but what does Croque Monsieur mean literally? The word croque comes from the verb croquer, meaning “to bite” in French and monsieur means “mister” or “sir.” Like many recipe origin stories there’s a few different versions, but most place the croque monsieur showing up in the early 1900s. Today it is one of the most prevalent sandwiches around France, showing up as a ready-made on grocery shelves, and in cafes and homes across the country.

Tools You’ll Need

• A medium saucepan

• A whisk

• A baking sheet

• A cheese grater

Add More French Flair To Your Cooking Repertoire

French cuisine always has a place in our kitchens. Here’s a few of our favorite French recipes that we hope you try:

• A timeless classic: the French Omelette

• Braised Leeks with Beurre Blanc (French Butter Sauce) is an unsung hero of French cooking

• Make Steak Frites next time you’re craving bistro fare

• A beautiful Coq au Vin is the perfect Sunday evening meal

J’Adore Les Sandwiches!

Did you make this easy croque monsieur recipe? Show us how you ham and cheese! Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Bon appétit!