Croque-Monsieur with Eggplants and Cheesy Mornay Sauce

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5

mins read

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Updated on

June 17, 2024

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!

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A croque-monsieur filled with eggplants and bellpeppers topped with a creamy mornay sauce

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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.

Eggplants slices pan-frying

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!

A slice of bread dipping in a cheesy 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.

Bottom and top layers of the croque-monsieur cooking in the oven

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:

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!

The croque-monsieur and all the layers between the toasted slices of bread

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

  1. Slice the eggplants and sprinkle with salt; let them sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.
  2. Heat some olive oil in a pan and fry the eggplants until both sides are golden.
  3. Sauté the sliced red bell peppers in the same pan until tender.

For the Mornay Sauce

  1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan.
  2. Stir in the flour and cook for a few minutes until the raw flour taste is gone.
  3. Gradually add unsweetened soy milk, whisking continuously until the sauce thickens into a creamy consistency.
  4. Add the nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar, and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.

Assembling the Croque-Monsieur

  1. Toast the bread slices until golden.
  2. Spread a layer of Mornay sauce on each slice of bread.
  3. On one slice, layer the sautéed eggplants and bell peppers, then cover with another slice, sauce-side down.
  4. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 10 minutes.
  5. Serve warm with a fresh green salad.

Notes

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