Croque Monsieur Recipe (French Ham and Cheese)

Origin of Croque Monsieur

Croque Monsieur is a delicious cheesy sandwich originated in France. And is very famous in French coffee shops and restaurants. It is made in a very French way, with bechamel sauce, ham and a lot of cheese in the filling and even on top. It is then baked until the cheese are melted and is served hot with a good cup of tea or coffee. Croque Monsieur is first made by Michel Lunarca, a bistro owner. The name Croque Monsieur came from the French word which translates to “bite” and “mister”. It has a feminine version which is called Croque Madame, which is made exactly the same but the only difference is that the Croque Madame is topped with poached or lightly fried egg.

When is Croque Monsieur Typically Served?

Croque Monsieur is a hot cheesy sandwich typically served as quick snacks, breakfast or even brunch. It is often eaten in a casual lunch and can be a side with a good vegetable salad or fries. It is famous in French cafes and bars and can never be missing in restaurant menu.

Kitchen Utensils You Need

Croque monsieur is quite easy to make and you will need the following kitchen tools and utensils in making one:

• Cheese Grater
• Plate
• Oven
• Aluminum Foil
• Bread Knife
• Spatula
• Tongs
• Serving plate

Croque Monsieur’s Primary Ingredients – Ham and Cheese.

Croque Monsieur is famous of its melting cheese upon serving. Which is one of the primary ingredients in making this sandwich as well as the good quality ham. Though it is originally made with gruyere and parmesan cheese, however, this may not be available to some places specially in provincial area. You can use other types of cheese , the same as I did. I used cheddar cheese and mozzarella in this recipe since it’s the available cheese in my area. You also need to choose a large slice of good quality ham to compliment with other ingredients. Both ingredients, the cheese are available in box or sachet while the ham are sold in kilogram. They are typically bought in malls and supermarkets. Talking about their health benefits. Cheese are good source of calcium, fat and protein. It is also rich in vitamins A and B-12. However, consuming too much cheese can cause irritation of your stomach. The ham, on the other hand is rich in protein and other beneficial nutrients. So, friendly reminder is to try to consume ham and cheese in moderation.

Interesting Facts

• Croque Monsieur is popularly called the gentleman’s sandwich mainly because of its name which means Croque for “bite” and Monsieur for “mister”.
• The lady version of Croque Monsieur sandwich is called "Croque Madame" which is made the same way but with poached or fried egg on top.

Tips and Tricks When Making Croque Monsieur

• You can use cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese in substitute to gruyere and parmesan cheese.
• Croque Monsieur can be baked or fried.
• You can assemble this sandwich ahead and just wrap with cling wrap and it can be stored frozen for up to 2 months. But I personally like to prepare my sandwich on the same day as I make them.

Now it a great way to start your day! Your breakfast and snack can never go wrong with this cheesy sandwich. Some may say this is the best sandwich in the world. Well, I couldn’t agree more and its for you to decide if you agree with most of us. And if you want to make your big appetite a good satisfaction, you can always try its recommendable variation – the Croque Madame. Enjoy your breakfast, snack or lunch and give yourself a good treat of cheesy French sandwich.