This is no mere snack we’re crafting here, this is an event. There are a few more steps involved than slapping a piece of ham and cheese between two pieces of bread. Parmesan – Alpine cheeses are relatively mild, so parmesan boosts the savoury oomph and saltiness to just where we want it, as well as giving the top of the Croque Monsieur a gorgeous crusty golden crown ĭijon mustard – Superb in any ham and cheese sandwich, and no exception here! It brings some welcome tang and another flavour layer to the sandwich andīutter – For pan-searing our Croque Monsieur in buttery goodness before it’s finished in the oven! Gruyere, Comté and Emmental are on the pricier end here in Australia whereas cheeses sold as “Swiss cheese” are better value and have excellent flavour comté, emmental) – or a mix! It’s all up to your budget, what you have and what you like. We use it here as it conveniently comes in sliced form for sandwiches, and it’s also cheaper than the real stuff.įeel free to use just Swiss cheese, or just gruyere (or other Alpine cheeses, eg. “Swiss cheese” is a generic name for mass-produced cheese made in the style of Alpine cheeses, specifically milder emmental cheese.

It has a pleasantly sweet and nutty flavour, and melts well, making it an ideal choice for a Croque Monsieur. Gruyere and Swiss cheese – The main cheeses! Gruyere is an Alpine cheese from Switzerland. Ham – Preferably smoked (who doesn’t love smoked ham?), but any ham is good here. A dash of nutmeg complements a béchamel beautifully.Īnd here’s what we need for the rest of our Croque Monsieur: Nutmeg and pepper – A touch of spicing for our béchamel.

Bechamel SauceĬream and milk – You could substitute the cream with more milk if you want, but it will reduce the richness of the béchamel! Richness = goodness … 😂 īutter and flour – The basis for our roux, which thickens our béchamel sauce and

Yes, it’s more than just bread, ham and cheese – see my opening statements! 😂 1. Here’s what you need to make Croque Monsieur. Whether borne of an accident or the mind of an ingenious French chef, we can all agree a world with Croque Monsieur in it is a happier place (though my butt may not agree!) Tales range from French workers who left their lunch boxes too close to a hot radiator, to a Parisian bistro owner who had to improvise when he ran out of baguettes (hard to imagine in France!)

OK, so I share those thoughts in jest! The true origins of Croque Monsieur actually remain largely unknown.

How to make a cheese sauce for f