Easy Croque Monsieur Recipe
Ingredients:
¼ cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups whole milk
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
A dash of ground nutmeg
8 thin slices of white sandwich bread
5 ounces good-quality ham (about 8 slices)
6 ounces Gruyere cheese (or Emmental cheese), grated (about 2 ½ cups)
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions:
Make the Béchamel Sauce:
Melt the butter in a saucepan.
Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes.
Gradually add the milk, stirring well until the mixture is smooth.
Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens.
Season with a little salt and pepper.
Remove from heat and whisk in the Dijon mustard and nutmeg.
Assemble the Sandwiches:
Lay all the bread slices on the counter and spread a thin layer of béchamel sauce on each slice.
Add one layer of ham and a sprinkle of cheese to half of the bread slices.
Top with another slice of bread, leaving the béchamel facing up.
Sprinkle the top layer of bread with more Parmesan and Gruyere.
Bake:
Toast the sandwiches in the oven until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve:
Enjoy your Croque Monsieur with a green salad and perhaps a small cup of French Onion Soup for the perfect Parisian meal!
