🌟 French sandwich Croque Monsieur

🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2-3)

Bread & Main

• Toast (Brioche) 🍞 – 4–6 slices (thicker slices are better for a softer texture)
• Ham – 4–6 slices (bacon ham/Paris ham is fine)
• Gruyère cheese 🧀 – about 100g (shredded, rich cheese flavor)
• Emmental cheese – about 50g (grated, can be mixed for a better stringy texture)
• Butter – as needed (for frying bread)

Béchamel Sauce

• Butter – 30g
• Flour – 30g
• Milk – 250ml 🥛
• Salt – a pinch
• Black pepper – a little
• Nutmeg – a little (optional, adds a more advanced flavor)

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• Additional shredded cheese (Gruyère / Parmesan) – as needed
• A pinch of Parsley 🌿 – for garnish

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👩🏻🍳 Cooking process

Step 1: Béchamel Sauce

1. Melt butter over medium heat.
2. Add flour and fry until it becomes a paste (Roux), fry until lightly golden.
3. Slowly pour in the milk, stirring as you go to avoid lumps.
4. Cook until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
5. Season with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.

👉 A smooth and fragrant white sauce is the soul of Croque Monsieur!

Step 2: Process the bread🍞

1. Lightly butter both sides of the toast.
2. Fry in a pan until both sides are slightly golden brown and slightly crispy.

Step 3: Assemble the sandwiches🥪

1. Take a slice of bread, put ham on it, and then put a layer of shredded cheese.
2. Cover with another slice of bread.
3. Brush the surface with a layer of white sauce and then cover with shredded cheese.

Step 4: Baking

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Place the assembled sandwiches in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the surface is golden and bubbly.
3. After removing from the oven, let it rest for 2-3 minutes, then cut into pieces and serve.

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💡 Editor's Tips

• Cheese selection 👉 Gruyère cheese is authentic, stringy and fragrant; if you can't find it, you can mix Mozzarella + Parmesan, the effect is also good.
• Bechamel sauce requires a lot of skill 👉 Don't stop stirring while cooking, otherwise it will clump and won't taste smooth.
• Upgraded version 👉 Add a sunny-side-up egg 🍳 on the sandwich and it will become Croque Madame , which is more rich.
• How to choose ham 👉 Paris ham (Jambon de Paris) is the most authentic, but bacon ham and turkey ham bought in Hong Kong can be used as substitutes.
• Serving suggestion : Serve with salad or fries for a complete French light meal.

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🎯 Summary

The Croque Monsieur French sandwich is a simple yet sophisticated creation. The crispy bread, shredded cheese 🧀, salty ham 🥩, and the rich, creamy white sauce 🥛 create a delicious taste of bliss ❤️. And the best part is: with just a few simple steps, you can create this classic French café dish, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.