Fantastique Croque Monsieur Recipe: A Unique & Decadent Sandwich by Ann Marie G. Halstead

Sometimes we just crave comfort food. Some of us crave it more than others. Some of us (OK, me) may find themselves cooking mostly comfort food and looking for new recipes. Well, we’re (I’m) in luck! The Today Show recently released 72 best comfort food recipes to nourish your soul. They had me at their headline!  These comfort food recipes are “sure to soothe your soul and warm you from the inside out.” Sounds good to me! 

Their list is long and varied. It’s a great mix of slow-cooker meals, recipes with multiple steps and one-pan recipes. They also include both meat dishes and vegetarian options. They list “fuss-free recipes when you’re short on time as well as more involved recipes that are slow and methodical (which provides another form of comfort).” Perhaps my favorite element of the list is that almost all of the comfort food recipes are family-friendly – while not forgetting the adults at the table.

One of my favorite recipes included in the article is one of the simpler ones: croque monsieur. First, this is a new one for me, which is always fun. Also, my family loves sandwiches, especially when we can customize them for each family member. In addition, I love that these are made in the oven; it makes me feel more like I’m cooking dinner rather than “just making sandwiches.” But trust me; these are more than your everyday sandwiches. This French recipe makes a simple ham and cheese decadent and delicious. One might even suggest that it becomes a bit fancy schmancy! It’s perfect with soup on a cold or chilly afternoon or evening.

As for customizing, one of the best ways to do this is to add a fried egg on top of the sandwich ingredients, which will take this recipe to another level. It also changes the name of the sandwich to croque madam (talk about fancy!). For two members of my family, once they’ve had a croque madam, they’ll never settle for a croque monsieur again.

Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 slices white sandwich bread
• Dijon mustard
• sliced ham (we prefer thinly sliced deli ham and use about 3 slices per sandwich, or 18 slices total)
• 4 cups grated Gruyere cheese (divided)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 pinch grated nutmeg

Here’s how to make it:

1. Place 6 slices of bread on a baking sheet and spread a small amount of Dijon mustard (Feel free to add more if you especially like Dijon flavor). Top with the desired amount of ham and sprinkle with about a tablespoon of Gruyere cheese. Top with the remaining bread slices.
2. Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until melted. Stir in the flour, creating a roux, and cook for about 4 minutes. Whisk in the milk (whisk as you pour it in, too) and stir until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add the pinch of nutmeg and 1 cup of Gruyere, then season with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the sandwiches, then top with the remaining cheese.
3. Bake for 8 minutes in a preheated 400-degree F oven. Turn on the broiler and broil (watching closely!) until the sandwiches are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, about 2 minutes, keeping an eye on them (all ovens and broilers are different).

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