• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Delicious Not Gorgeous logo
  • Coffee
  • Cantonese
  • Recipe Index
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Coffee
  • Cantonese
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » French

    Caramelized Mushroom Croque-Monsieurs

    Apr 16, 2017 · 4 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe

    i was at a women in tech event a couple of weeks ago. my main takeaway was how incongruent it seemed to talk about confidence and empowerment and equality, and then be handed a giftcard for uber, a place notorious for its mistreatment of the women in its workforce.

    aside from that blunder, the other thing that stuck with me was how relatable the content about confidence and unapologeticness was. if someone on the bus is taking up too much room, i shrink into myself or towards the side of the bus, even though they're the one manspreading (or being oblivious). i come up with compromises when i suggest ideas, before any hint of feedback rolls in. sometimes i'm reluctant to be decisive, since i feel like it can come off too aggressive. i've downplayed my accomplishments, even to close friends, because i don't want to seem like i'm bragging. i noticed all these little hints before, but now they appear blaring, and i'm trying to catch myself before i do one of these things, and resist the urge. man, it's hard to undo a habit.

    the above lessons could extend to these caramelized mushroom croque-monsieurs: they could be seen as just sandwiches, and that seems so reductive and weakening. especially when there's double cheese duty from stretchy, funky (not all the way to funkytown but close) gruyere to the nutty, slightly golden parmesan that crisps into the prettiest lace pattern when it sticks to the plate. did i mention that there's creaminess from a seriously quick mornay, complete with parmesan woven throughout? the ham is fair game for a usual sandwich, but the toothy mushrooms take it right back to saucy assemblage on crispy bread with cheese fricos status.

    and if you want to elevate it even more, what about a croque-madame, which adds a fried egg on top? i personally find these caramelized mushroom croque-monsieurs plenty rich and hearty sans that runny yolk, but you do you.

    if you want other carb-y brunch treats, how about some herbed feta and mushroom confit crostini or almond cherry bostock?

    This cross-section of the caramelized mushroom croque-monsieur shows all the ham and mornay and melty cheese in all of its glory.

    0 from 0 votes
    These caramelized mushroom croque-monsieurs are fancy ham and cheese sandwiches with caramelized mushrooms and onions, and parmesan filled Mornay sauce. || Delicious Not Gorgeous
    Print
    Caramelized Mushroom Croque-Monsieurs
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Cook Time
    45 mins
    Total Time
    55 mins
     
    The typical croque-monsieurs have ham, Gruyere and Mornay sauce, but these ones get fancy with some caramelized mushrooms.
    Course: Brunch, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 6 sandwiches
    Calories: 747 kcal
    Ingredients
    Mornay Sauce
    • 1 ½  tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1 ½ cups whole milk
    • 1 bay leaf
    • ½ cup finely grated Parmesan
    Assembly
    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
    • 8 ounces crimini or button mushrooms trimmed and sliced
    • 1 onion finely chopped
    • 12 ⅓” thick slices bread egg or white bread works best
    • 6-12 thin ham slices
    • 12 ounces Gruyère thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
    Instructions
    Mornay Sauce
    1. Melt the butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, then the bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high; whisk until it begins to boil. Reduce heat to medium; stir until sauce coats back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the cheese and a pinch of nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
    Assembly
    1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and onion; cook until the mushrooms and onions are dark and caramelized, stirring occasionally.

    2. Spread the remaining butter over 1 side of each slice of bread. Place the bread, buttered side up, on a baking sheet. Broil until golden, watching closely and rotating halfway through, about 3 minutes. Cool. Turn 6 slices over; top with ham, sliced cheese and mushrooms/onions. Top with remaining bread, broiled side up. Spread 2 tablespoons sauce on top, leaving ⅓” plain border. Sprinkle with the Parmesan.

    3. Bake at 450F until cheese inside melts and cheese on top is golden, about 10 minutes. 

    Recipe Notes

    Adapted slightly from Marlena Spieler for Bon Appetit, March 2011.

    More French Recipes

    • Almond Cherry Bostock
    • Cherry Almond Croquant
    • Jasmine Cream Puffs
    • Palmiers

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      April 17, 2017 at 6:50 am

      Holy cow, Heather! This looks divine! I love gruyere and melty cheese makes me swoon :). I do all those little "girl" things too--my main problem is that I apologize for EVERYTHING! Like, I apologize when I express a totally non-controversial opinion. Ugh! It sounds like a really interesting event you attended. Have a great week!

      Reply
      • Heather says

        April 20, 2017 at 11:45 am

        cheese makes me very happy too (especially when there's cheese samples from whole foods or costco). i think the apologies just come out (mine do anyways), and we don't even think about them! maybe now you can catch yourself and try to do it a little less (:

        Reply
    2. Joyce says

      April 24, 2017 at 1:18 pm

      Such a good read. Being a woman in tech, I always downplayed myself but then I got into a company where men dominated and that's usually okay but damn the way they did it - it was just degrading and wrong. After many years there, I was forced to grow some kahunas and it totally changed my attitude but it's such a terrible way to do it but I guess I had to be in it to grow from it. This sandwhich screams comfort to me 🙂 I would definitely fry up an egg and plop it on top and damn the parm on top is to die for!

      Reply
      • Heather says

        April 27, 2017 at 11:33 am

        ugh that sounds like such a bad environment to work in ): glad that it forced you to stand up for yourself more, though! also feel like it's more likely that girls don't feel adequate enough compared to guys, especially in tech. also: can everything have parm on top?! please and thank you.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Popular Recipes

    • Nutella Waffles
    • Lemon Ginger Cucumber Water
    • Wife Cakes (Lou Po Beng)
    • Furikake Chicken
    • Blood Orange Vodka
    • Grinch Mimosa
    • Kung Pao Paneer
    • Oolong Milk Tea
    Picture of Chinese American woman in front of a blurred building
    Hi, I'm Heather!
    More about me →









    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Delicious Not Gorgeous