The Famous Croque-Monsieur

Very few sandwiches make it into French cuisine's Hall of Fame status. However, the Croque-Monsieur is no ordinary sandwich. With all of the different and gourmet twists on this toasted work of art, the Croque-Monsieur is the perfect complement to that hearty bowl of soup and just the thing that'll warm you up as the weather turns cold.

The quintessential French bistro sandwich, the Croque-Monsieur is so much more than your typical grilled ham and cheese. With cheese safely enrobed both within and broiled atop the sandwich, the Croque-Monsieur is your fall go-to comfort food.

Literally translated to the Crunchy Mister, you may want to stick to its preferred nomenclature, but either way, a sandwich this good is sure not to disappoint. Whip one up for dinner this week and leave everyone shouting for more.

Pretty much all you'll need is your favorite sandwich bread (white works better than wheat), some sliced deli ham, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and the cheese of your cheese. (We recommend Gruyere, but it's up to you). Toast the bread, and then slather one slice each (per sandwich), with mayo and the mustard respectively. Add ham and cheese to the middle, and then place the closed sandwich on a baking sheet. Add more cheese to the top of each sandwich and broil in the broiler setting of your oven (or toaster oven) until bubbly and melted through. 

Voila! Bon appetit!

Also, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can always make it a full blown Croque-Madame by adding a fried egg to the top of your Croque-Monsieur. Other variations to the Croque-Monsieur include adding apples and herbs, such as sage, to even creating a rich, velvety cheese sauce for the filling and topping.

Let us know if you have a favorite Croque-Monsieur variation in the comments below. We'd love to try it!