Croque monsieur kites recipe (2024)

  • To make the pastry, set up a freestanding mixer with a dough hook attachment and grease a large bowl with a little olive oil.

  • Add the flour, then put the yeast to one side of the bowl and the salt and sugar on the opposite side.

  • In a jug, mix the eggs, milk and 4 tablespoons water. Pour into the flour mixture and mix on a low speed for 2 minutes (you may need to push the dough down the hook occasionally). Increase the speed to medium and mix for a further 6 minutes.

  • Lightly flour a work surface and tip out the dough. Shape the dough into a smooth ball. Transfer to the oiled bowl and cover either with a clean tea towel or oiled cling film. Leave to prove for an hour or until doubled in size.

  • Meanwhile, flatten the butter into a rectangle about 1cm/½in thick. Place between 2 pieces of baking paper and store in the fridge until needed.

  • Flour the work surface again, then tip out the risen dough. Flatten it and roll it out to a rectangle about 40x15cm/16x6in and about 1cm/½in thick. Arrange the dough with one of the short edges nearest to you. Lay the butter in the middle of the dough, fold the dough over the butter in the middle so the dough overlaps slightly. Pinch all the edges to seal the butter in pastry. Place in a plastic food bag and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.

  • Place the chilled dough on a lightly floured work surface with one of the short edges nearest you. Roll out the dough into a 40x15cm/16x6in rectangle and fold into three layers (like a letter). Place in a plastic bag in the freezer for 10 minutes. Repeat the rolling and folding as before, then return to the freezer for another 10 minutes. Repeat the rolling and folding one final time, then chill the dough for 30 minutes in a plastic bag in the fridge.

  • Meanwhile, for the béchamel sauce, in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and stir constantly for about 3 minutes, until completely smooth. Pour in the milk in a thin, steady stream, whisking all the time, and cook the sauce for about 5–10 minutes, or until smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the mustard, taste and season with salt and pepper.

  • Add a third of the grated cheeses (from the savoury filling ingredients) and mix until the cheese has melted and the sauce smooth. Cover the surface of the sauce with cling film to prevent a skin forming and set aside to cool.

  • For the filling, heat the olive oil and butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Once hot, add the mushrooms, sliced pancetta and thyme and fry for about 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and porcini powder and fry for another 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper then leave to cool.

  • Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.

  • To assemble, roll out the dough until 5mm/¼in thick and place on a large baking tray. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to allow the dough to rest and firm up. Re-roll if necessary until the dough is 30x40cm/12x16in. Using a sharp knife cut into twelve 10cm/4in squares.

  • Leaving a 1cm/½in border, cut a 4cm/1½in square from the middle of each square – cutting right through two opposite corners of the inner square, but leaving the other two corners just connected either side of the corner points. Brush the inside square with a little egg wash. Fold the border strip corner to corner, pulling one over the other and pressing onto opposite corner of the inner square, then repeat with the other side (watch Paul Hollywood making them toward the end of the technique video below – it’s easy when you’ve seen it done). Brush the whole pastry with egg wash.

  • In the middle of each pastry place a few spoonfuls of the mushroom pancetta filling. Lay a rasher of pancetta across each one, crinkled up, then cover with 1-2 teaspoons béchamel sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining gruyère and emmental, then season with black pepper.

  • Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the pancetta is cooked and the pastry crisp and golden-brown. Cool a little on wire racks, the pastries can be eaten warm or cold.

  • Croque monsieur kites recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the difference between a croque madame and a croque monsieur? ›

    A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur with a poached or fried egg on top. The difference between the two sandwiches has to do with how the egg is incorporated into the rest of the ingredients: In a croque monsieur, the bread is dipped into the beaten egg before it's cooked (French toast-style).

    What is the difference between a croque madame and a Monte Cristo? ›

    The main difference between the two is that a croque madame has an egg on top, while a croque monsieur does not. Then there is the Monte Cristo, which is nearly the same as the Monsieur except that it may add other meat, such as turkey and is often sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with jam or jelly.

    What is Le croque monsieur made of? ›

    A croque monsieur is traditionally made with baked or boiled ham and sliced cheese between slices of pain de mie, topped with grated cheese and lightly salted and peppered, and then baked in an oven or fried in a frying pan. The bread may optionally be browned by grilling after being dipped in beaten egg.

    Who invented the croque monsieur? ›

    Its origins were humble. Bistro owner Michel Lunarca popularised the dish in the early 1900s as a simple snack for busy Parisiens. Especially meaning 'mister crunch', the sandwich is a new riff on an old theme.

    Is a Monte Cristo a croque monsieur? ›

    The Monte Cristo sandwich likely originated around 1910 as a variation of a similar sandwich called a croque monsieur. It was invented and initially served in Paris cafes but gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1930s.

    Do the French eat croque monsieur? ›

    Croque monsieurs are a staple of bistros and brasseries in France. The classic version is toasted bread topped with ham and melted Gruyère cheese.

    Do you eat a croque monsieur with a fork? ›

    A croque monsieur is a sandwich, but it isn't usually eaten like a sandwich. You wouldn't pick it up and take a bite. Eating a Croque Monsieur requires a knife and fork so you can slice through the thick bread, meat, and cheese.

    What is a croque monsieur Poilane? ›

    You've likely heard of croque monsieur, a grilled ham and cheese sandwich topped with béchamel sauce, and croque madame, the same sandwich with an egg on top.

    What is croque Florentine? ›

    Spread half the bechamel on the bread slices. Arrange the spinach and the sausage slices on top, overlapping then slightly. Cover with the remaining bechamel and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake 12 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and is starting to colour. Serve hot.

    How much is a croque monsieur in Paris? ›

    Croque Monsieur will run you around 7-9 euros and a salad 12 -15 euros.

    What is an interesting fact about the croque monsieur? ›

    The Croque Monsieur, a gentleman's sandwich

    The name comes from the word croquer, meaning to bite, and monsieur, meaning mister, translating overall as gentleman's sandwich. Historically a Croque Monsieur is made using standard sliced white bread, but some people use a sweetened version such as brioche.

    How do you eat a croque monsieur? ›

    Croque Monsieur is a delicious French ham and cheese sandwich made with gruyere, parmesan, ham and a simple béchamel sauce, toasted in the oven. Serve with a green salad and a small cup of French Onion Soup and you have the perfect Parisian meal!

    Where is croque monsieur popular? ›

    Think of France's croque monsieur as the lovechild of a grilled cheese and a ham and cheese sandwich. Ham and gruyere are sandwiched between two slices of white bread, topped with béchamel sauce, and broiled. Served with a green salad, it's a common, quick-and-easy Sunday supper for many French families.

    What ingredient does a croque madame have that is not in a croque monsieur? ›

    With this said, the basics are the basics — bread, cheese, and ham. While this is the base for both the croque monsieur and the croque madame, a croque madame has a fried egg on top of it. According to The Culture Trip, the new name came to be because the egg on top resembles a woman's hat.

    What is a Monte Cristo sandwich made of? ›

    It's a fried sandwich with ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and mustard dipped in beaten egg and pan-fried until golden and gooey for a delicious alternative to your usual ham and cheese sandwich.

    Is croque monsieur masculine or feminine? ›

    First, let's explore why it's called a “croque monsieur.” The sandwich's name comes from the French words croque (bite) and monsieur (mister). For those of you wondering if there is a female version, why yes, there is! A croque madame is the same preparation with one addition: a fried egg on top.

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