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–+ servings

Croque Monsieur (Bistro-Style)

This Croque Monsieur is an absolute icon in my book. It relies on 4 elements: thick-cut brioche, a rich nutmeg béchamel, savory ham, and plenty of Gruyère.
Servings: 4 servings
By: Nadia Aidi
Two halves of a baked croque monsieur recipe on a patterned plate showing the melted gruyere cheese crust and toasted brioche.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 40 minutes

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • whisk
  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper
  • cheese grater

Ingredients 

  • 2.5 tbsp butter
  • 2.5 tbsp flour
  • 1 1/3 cup milk, warmed
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp chives, finely chopped
  • salt, to taste
  • 8 slices brioche bread, thick cut
  • 8 slices ham
  • 8 oz gruyère, shredded
  • 4 oz parmigiano reggiano, grated

Instructions

  • Make the Béchamel: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook for about 4 minutes to remove the flour taste. Slowly whisk in the milk and let the sauce thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in nutmeg, white pepper, dijon mustard, chives, and salt.
    2.5 tbsp butter, 2.5 tbsp flour, 1 1/3 cup milk, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp white pepper, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 2 tbsp chives, salt
  • Assemble the Sandwiches: Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 4 slices of brioche bread on the baking sheet and spread the béchamel evenly onto the tops. On top of the béchamel, layer the ham slices and about 1 oz of the shredded Gruyère. On the remaining 4 slices of bread, spread the béchamel on one side and then place them sauce-side up on the sandwiches. Top each one with the remaining cheese and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
    8 slices brioche bread, 8 slices ham, 8 oz gruyère, 4 oz parmigiano reggiano
  • Bake and Broil: Bake for 12-15 minutes and then broil for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden. Serve immediately. All rights reserved.

Nutrition

Calories: 909kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 47g, Fat: 62g, Saturated Fat: 34g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 259mg, Sodium: 1911mg, Potassium: 366mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1806IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 886mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info