Description
A classic French sandwich made with ham and Gruyère cheese, topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices of white bread
- 4 ounces of sliced ham
- 4 ounces of Gruyère cheese, grated
- 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of whole milk
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and whisk for about 1 minute until it forms a paste.
- Gradually add the milk while whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the Dijon mustard, nutmeg (if using), salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons of softened butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- On the unbuttered side of 4 slices, layer the ham and half of the Gruyère cheese. Top with the other 4 slices of bread, buttered side up.
- Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, flip the sandwiches, and pour the béchamel sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère cheese.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let cool for a few minutes before slicing in half and serving.
Notes
- For a Croque Madame, top each sandwich with a fried or poached egg before serving.
- Experiment with different cheeses like Swiss or cheddar for a unique flavor twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg