Croque Monsieur

Name: Croque Monsieur
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: France
Ingredients: 8 slices sturdy white sandwich bread; 8 oz thinly sliced ham; 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated; 2 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp flour; 1 cup whole milk; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; Pinch of nutmeg

4 servings15 min prep15 min cookEasy France

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Croque Monsieur

Story updated September 17, 2026

The croque monsieur, a grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich, first appeared on the menu of a Parisian café around 1910. Its cheeky name, roughly 'mister crunch,' reflects the playful spirit of early 20th-century Parisian café culture, and the sandwich has remained a bistro staple across France ever since.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

8 slices sturdy white sandwich bread
8 oz thinly sliced ham
1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 cup whole milk
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Pinch of nutmeg

Instructions

1Melt butter, whisk in flour, and cook 1 minute for a roux.
2Whisk in milk gradually and simmer until thickened into béchamel; season with nutmeg.
3Spread mustard on bread, layer with ham and some Gruyère, and close sandwiches.
4Spread béchamel over the tops of the sandwiches and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
5Place on a baking sheet and broil until golden and bubbling.
6Cool slightly before serving.

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