Make a Croque Monsieur’s recipe that turns the simple ham and cheese sandwich into an elegant meal with creamy Mornay sauce and crisp, golden bread.

Croque Monsieur Recipe

This delicious dish features thinly sliced ham and rich Gruyère cheese between buttery brioche slices, topped with a velvety Mornay sauce and baked to a golden crisp, creating a perfect blend of creamy and crunchy textures.

Ingredients

For the Mornay sauce:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup Gruyère cheese, grated
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• grated nutmeg
• black or white pepper to taste
• For the sandwiches – make 2
• 4 slices brioche or sliced white bread
• 8 thin slices of cooked ham
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 ¼ cup Gruyère cheese, grated
• 1 cup Mornay sauce
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• chopped parsley for garnish

Mornay Sauce Preparation

1. Scald the Milk:
   • Scald milk in a small saucepan and set aside.
2. Prepare the Roux:
   • Melt butter in a second saucepan.
   • Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
3. Combine Milk and Roux:
   • Slowly add the hot milk to the roux.
   • Whisk continuously to eliminate lumps as the sauce thickens.
4. Finish the Sauce:
   • Remove the pan from heat and bring it to the work surface.
   • Add cheese and whisk until it melts into the sauce.
   • Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
   • Cover and set aside.

Assemble Sandwich

1. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position.
2. Toast Bread:
   • Toast slices of bread to golden.
3. Prepare Baking Sheet:
   • Place two slices of toasted bread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Add Mustard and Ham:
   • Divide mustard between the two slices, spreading it out evenly over the surface.
   • Add ham to each slice.
5. Add Mornay Sauce and Gruyère Cheese:
   • Spoon a generous helping of the Mornay sauce over the ham.
   • Add 1/2 cup of grated Gruyère cheese onto each sandwich.
   • Place the remaining two pieces of toasted bread onto the stacks.
6. Top Sandwiches:
   • Spoon additional Mornay sauce across the top pieces of toast.
   • Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère cheese.
7. Bake Sandwiches:
   • Transfer sandwiches to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Crisp the Sandwiches

1. 1. Change Oven Setting:
      • Remove baked sandwiches from the oven and turn the oven setting to broil.
   2. Add Parmesan Cheese and Broil:
      • Sprinkle the tops of each sandwich with Parmesan cheese.
      • Return sandwiches to the oven, watching closely as the tops brown.
   3. Serve:
      • Remove sandwiches from the oven.
      • Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
      • Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

• Simple Salad
• Garlic Dill Pickles

Tips and Tricks

• Use Gruyère for its stringy texture and nutty flavor, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses like Emmental, Parmesan, or white cheddar.
• Apply the Mornay sauce inside the sandwich for creaminess and on top before baking for a crispy finish.
• To achieve the signature crunch, sprinkle Parmesan on top and broil the sandwich briefly after baking.