Croque Monsieur Recipe

The basic croque monsieur recipe is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, with a crispy, crunchy exterior. The sandwich is aptly named; the french verb croquer, means “to crunch” and Monsieur means Mister. A variation is the croque madame (Mrs.), which is topped with a fried egg. Other variations, of the croque monsieur recipe, include open face sandwiches (tartine) and a topping of béchamel sauce. Key ingredients are gruyère cheese and French bread.

The sandwich originated in a Parisian café, on Boulevard des Capucines, around 1910. Today, the sandwich is served in bistros all over France.

Plan to eat your sandwich French style, with a fork (une fourchette) and a knife (un couteau).

Sandwich Recipe

8 slices fresh bread –French bread if possible – crusts removed

4 slices baked ham or jambon de Paris

8 slices Gruyère cheese

4 Tbsp clarified butter

2 tsp dijon mustard

Clarified butter has a higher smoke point, which means frying can be done at a higher temperature. Melt butter in a heavy saucepan at a low heat. Once butter is completely melted, remove from heat. After it has cooled for 5 minutes, skim off the foamy top. Pour the melted liquid butter into a container and discard solids at the bottom of the pan.

Assemble four sandwiches using 2 slices of bread, 1 slice of ham and 2 slices of cheese for each sandwich. Children can help assemble the sandwiches.

Spread ½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard on the interior of the bread prior to assembling. Brush the outside of the sandwiches with butter.

In a non-stick fry pan, add the clarified butter and sauté the sandwiches over medium heat. Cook each side until golden brown – approximately 2.5 minutes.

Béchamel Sauce Recipe

6 Tbsp butter

¼ cup flour

2 cups milk

1 Tsp salt

Melt the butter and add the salt. Add the flour, a little at a time, while constantly stirring with a whisk. Slowly add the milk, while continuing to whisk. Sauce will thicken. Do not boil.

Remove sauce from heat and pour several tablespoons over sandwich. Place in broiler for 3- 5 minutes.

Croque Madame

My favorite version of the croque monsieur recipe is the croque madame. Fry an egg – as you like it- over easy, runny or well done. Place atop sandwich. If you opted for béchamel sauce, place the egg atop the sauce after the sandwich comes out of the broiler.

Fun Children's Version

Use a large cookie cutter to make sandwich shapes. First cut out the bread and then match up cheese and ham. Children can do the cutting with the cookie cutter and match up the pieces to assemble the sandwich.

Vocabulary

Fork	La fourchette
Knife	Le couteau
Cheese	Le fromage
Ham	Le jambon
Mustard	La moutarde
Butter	Le beurre
Egg	L’oeuf
Pan	La poêle
Flour	La farine
Milk	Le lait
Sandwich	Le sandwich
Open sandwich	La tartine
Lunch	Le déjeuner
I would like a croque monsieur.	Je voudrais une croque monsieur.
Please	S'il vous plaît
Thank you	Merci
To crunch	Croquer
Mr.	Monsieur
Mrs.	Madame
Miss	Mademoiselle

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