The short answer
The croque-monsieur is arguably the most famous Parisian dish. A toasted bread recipe found in every Paris bistro. Here, I invite you to experience this comforting, cheesy croque-monsieur filled with eggplants and bell peppers!
Traditionally, the croque-monsieur consists of toasted bread filled with ham and cheese and topped with Béchamel Sauce. In my plant-based version, I use eggplants, red bell peppers instead, all covered in a cheesy Mornay sauce. 🧀
How to Prepare The Vegetables?
Simple, yet super indulgent, I’m a big fan of fried eggplants! I also add red bell peppers for a bright, sweet flavor. 🍆🫑
First, I salt the sliced eggplants to take advantage of the osmosis reaction, preventing them from becoming chewy. After resting for 15 minutes, I fry them in extra virgin olive oil on both sides. Once done, I put them aside and use the same pan to sauté the bell peppers until they are sweetened and less bitter.
How to Prepare the Mornay Sauce?
The Mornay Sauce is a cheesy variation of the classic béchamel sauce. I make it by adding nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar. I love how cheesy this sauce is, it’s also perfect for mac and cheese!
Start by warming some olive oil in a pan and stir in flour. Whisk it for a few minutes to cook off the floury taste, then slowly pour in unsweetened milk. Mix in nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar, and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. That's it!
For more details, check out my article on the Mornay sauce!
Cooking and Assembling
Prepare by slicing bread for the croque-monsieur. Spread sauce on both top and bottom slices. On the latter, layer the eggplants and bell peppers as well. Bake at 200°C (390°F) for 10 minutes until the bread is crunchy.
Traditionally, croque-monsieur is served with French fries and a side salad in bistros. I enjoy pairing it with a simple green salad, adding any leftover eggplants and bell peppers.
Variations of Croque-Monsieur
Croque-Monsieur might be the most famous type of this Parisian sandwich, but there are many variations in France!
The most popular variation is the Croque-Madame, topped with an egg, but there are many others:
- Croque Provençale (with tomatoes)
- Croque Normand (with apples)
- Croque Tartiflette (with potatoes)
- The Sweet Croque (with banana and chocolate powder)
There are so many ways to make Croque-Monsieur! That’s my cue to you to experiment 🧑🍳
Try different vegetables and sauces. It may not strictly be a Croque-Monsieur, but your taste buds will love it just the same!
The Recipe
Croque-monsieur with eggplants
Don't miss this easy-to-make and tasteful croque-monsieur!
Prep time
15
mins
Cooking Time
30
mins
Servings
4
people
Ingredients
- 4 eggplants
- 2 red bell peppers
- 8 slices of bread, ideally Pain de mie
- 15 grams flour
- 15 ml olive oil
- Unsweetened soy milk
- Nutmeg
- 40 grams nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
For the Vegetables
- Slice the eggplants and sprinkle with salt; let them sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Heat some olive oil in a pan and fry the eggplants until both sides are golden.
- Sauté the sliced red bell peppers in the same pan until tender.
For the Mornay Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan.
- Stir in the flour and cook for a few minutes until the raw flour taste is gone.
- Gradually add unsweetened soy milk, whisking continuously until the sauce thickens into a creamy consistency.
- Add the nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar, and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
Assembling the Croque-Monsieur
- Toast the bread slices until golden.
- Spread a layer of Mornay sauce on each slice of bread.
- On one slice, layer the sautéed eggplants and bell peppers, then cover with another slice, sauce-side down.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 10 minutes.
- Serve warm with a fresh green salad.
