A symphony of colors with toasty golden bread layered with hints of pink radish slices and white creamy sauce, topped with a melted blanket of Gruyère. Small rosemary sprigs and a sprinkle of scattered paprika dots contrast with the creamy background.

Radish Riviera Croque Monsieur

Name: Radish Riviera Croque Monsieur
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: small radishes, 8 thinly sliced; sourdough bread, 4 slices; ham, 4 slices; Gruyère cheese, 100g grated; milk, 1 cup; butter, 1 tablespoon; all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon; paprika, for garnish; sprigs of rosemary, for garnish; salt and pepper, to taste; oil, 1 tablespoon for toasting the bread

Category Brunch

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 10 minutes

Style French

Technique Toasting

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: December 02, 2023

Explore the marriage of earthy radishes with a classic French brunch staple in this inventive, unorthodox twist on Croque Monsieur. The key ingredient here is the radish which brings a peppery bite to the ensemble, while the Gruyère cheese and béchamel sauce add a creamy depth to contrast the crispy bread.

Ingredients (for 2)

Small radishes - 8 - thinly sliced
Sourdough bread - 4 slices
Ham - 4 slices
Gruyère cheese - 100g - grated
Milk - 1 cup
Butter - 1 tablespoon
All-purpose flour - 1 tablespoon
Paprika - - for garnish
Sprigs of rosemary - - for garnish
Salt and pepper - to taste
Oil - 1 tablespoon - for toasting the bread

Preparation

Step 1 - 🥘🍚🧂

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring in the flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly until thickened and finally season with salt and pepper.
Step 2 - 🍳🍞🔥

Heat a layer of oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the slices of bread and toast both sides until golden.
Step 3 - 🍖🧀🥪

On each slice of toasted bread, layer a slice of ham, a sprinkle of grated Gruyère cheese, and a layer of thinly sliced radishes.
Step 4 - 🥛🧀🥄

Pour the béchamel sauce over each layer, and top with another sprinkle of grated Gruyère cheese.
Step 5 - 🔥🥪⏲️

Place the sandwiches under a preheated grill for 5 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
Step 6 - 🥪🌱🍽️

Serve the sandwiches with a dusting of paprika and a sprig of rosemary for garnish.

Additional

This recipe takes the classic Croque Monsieur up a notch with the addition of radishes! The spiciness of the radish is a perfect match for the rich, creamy elements of this dish. To involve kids, let them help with layering the sandwich or preparing garnishes. If you want to go a step further, you can replace ham with smoked salmon or turkey slices to add variations to your brunch!