Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe

Nutty Gruyère cheese and creamy Béchamel sauce elevate this Mary Berry croque monsieur to a sophisticated favorite you’ll always want at the heart of your weekend brunch table. It’s delicious with a crisp green salad, a side of salty cornichons, a light vinaigrette dressing, a glass of chilled white wine; in fact most things.

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Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe Ingredients

• 50 g (1 3/4 oz) butter
• 4 slices white bread (medium thickness)
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 4 thin slices smoked ham
• 100 g (3 1/2 oz) Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated
• 15 g (1/2 oz) plain flour
• 150 ml (5 fl oz) hot full-fat milk
• A pinch of ground nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Make Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe

1. Toast the bread base: Preheat your grill to a medium setting and line a baking sheet with foil. Melt half of the butter (25g) in a small saucepan. Using a pastry brush, coat one side of each slice of bread with the melted butter. Place them on the baking sheet, buttered-side up, and grill for 1 to 2 minutes until they are a beautiful light golden brown.
2. Assemble the layers: Remove the tray from the grill and flip the bread slices over. Spread the unbuttered sides generously with Dijon mustard. Place two slices of smoked ham onto two of the mustard-covered slices. Scatter exactly half of the grated Gruyère cheese over the ham. Top with the remaining bread slices, toasted-side up, to create two sturdy sandwiches.
3. Prepare the Béchamel sauce: Melt the remaining 25g of butter in the same saucepan. Whisk in the plain flour and cook for a few seconds to create a roux. Gradually whisk in the hot full-fat milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens into a smooth, velvety consistency. Remove from the heat and stir in the ground nutmeg and 25g of the grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
4. The final grill: Spread the thick white sauce evenly over the top of both sandwiches, ensuring it reaches right to the edges. Sprinkle the remaining Gruyère cheese over the sauce. Place the sandwiches back under the grill for about 5 minutes. You are looking for the cheese to be completely melted and the Béchamel topping to be golden brown and bubbling.
5. Rest and serve: Allow the sandwiches to sit for a few seconds after removing them from the heat; this helps the cheese set slightly so it doesn’t all run out when sliced. Cut each sandwich in half diagonally and serve while piping hot.

Recipe Tips

• The Cheese Choice: Mary Berry insists on Gruyère for its specific nutty flavor and superior melting qualities. If you cannot find it, a mature Emmental or a very sharp Comté are the best alternatives.
• Hot Milk Secret: When making the Béchamel, using hot milk instead of cold prevents the sauce from becoming lumpy and speeds up the thickening process significantly.
• Preventing Soggy Bread: Toasting the “inside” side of the bread first (Step 1) creates a barrier that prevents the mustard and ham moisture from soaking into the crumb, keeping the sandwich crisp.
• Dijon is Essential: Don’t substitute with English or Yellow mustard. Dijon has a refined heat and acidity that cuts through the richness of the Béchamel and Gruyère perfectly.

What To Serve With Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe?

This Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe is a rich, indulgent meal that needs a fresh or tangy pairing! A Crisp Green Salad with Radishes is the quintessential choice for a light lunch. For a more traditional French experience, a side of Cornichons and Pickled Onions adds a lovely vinegary crunch that pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce! A side of Frites (French Fries) or a glass of Chilled Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with the ham and nutmeg notes.

How To Store Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe

• Refrigerate: While best served immediately, you can store assembled (but ungrilled) sandwiches in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Keep the sauce in a separate container and apply just before grilling.
• Reheat: If you have leftovers, reheat them in the oven at 180°C for 10 minutes. Avoid the microwave, as it will make the toasted bread soft and chewy.
• Freezing: It is not recommended to freeze this recipe, as the Béchamel sauce and Gruyère cheese can separate and become grainy upon thawing.

Mary Berry Croque Monsieur Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 540 kcal (per sandwich)
• Total Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg
• Sodium: 980 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on bread size.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Mary Berry Sticky Chicken Wings Recipe
• Mary Berry Paprika Chicken Thighs Recipe
• Mary Berry Chicken Orzo Recipe