For those of you who’ve had the pleasure of traveling to France, you might know that the croque monsieur is a staple of French cafe cuisine. From the description of this ham and cheese, you might not give this decadent sandwich a shot. That would be a huge mistake. Our veggie version of the croque monsieur keeps the classic recipe but veganizes the béchamel sauce and assorted cheeses while topping it off with some vegan ham. —LM + AM
SERVES 2
1 cup (236 ml) plain unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsp (30 g) vegan butter
2 tbsp (16 g) flour
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 pieces of French peasant bread
2 slices vegan ham
2 slices vegan cheese
2 tbsp (10 g) vegan Parmesan
Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Heat the almond milk in the microwave for 1 minute. Begin your béchamel sauce by melting butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once the butter is completely melted, whisk in the flour. Allow the flour and butter mixture to bubble for 2 minutes. When the 2 minutes are up, immediately whisk in the heated almond milk, salt and pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil and constantly stir for 3 minutes. After the 3 minutes, remove the sauce from the heat and set aside.
To assemble the sandwiches, put 4 slices of bread on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Pour half of the béchamel sauce over 2 of the pieces of bread, allowing it to flow over the sides. On top of the sauce, layer a piece of vegan ham, a piece of cheese and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Place the last 2 pieces of bread on top and pour over the rest of the béchamel sauce. Top each sandwich with one more piece of cheese and sprinkle more Parmesan on top.
Bake the croque monsieurs for 6 to 8 minutes; then remove from the oven and serve.