Croque Monsieur

History

First served in Parisian cafes around 1910, the croque monsieur is a grilled ham-and-cheese elevated with bechamel and a golden gratineed top. Its name roughly means mister crunch; crown it with a fried egg and it becomes a croque madame, named for the hat-like yolk.

Ingredients

• White sandwich bread
• Ham
• Gruyere cheese
• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Dijon mustard
• Nutmeg

How to Make

1. 1Make a bechamel: melt butter, whisk in flour, then milk; cook until thick. Season with nutmeg, salt and a little Dijon.
2. 2Spread bechamel on the bread; layer ham and Gruyere.
3. 3Top with more bechamel and grated Gruyere.
4. 4Bake or broil until bubbling and golden, ~5-8 min.
5. 5Serve hot (add a fried egg to make it a Croque Madame).

Known for it

• Café de Flore172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France