A staple on bistro and brasserie menus, the croque-monsieur is a sure bet that everyone loves. Let's make it in the Maximus wood-fired oven , the perfect partner for recipes that are both quick and delicious.

THE RECIPE IN VIDEO

INGREDIENTS

• For the Mornay sauce
• 500g whole milk
• 40g butter
• 40g flour
• A hint of cumin
• 1 egg
• For assembly
• 8 slices of sandwich bread
• 200g grated comté or gruyère cheese
• 4 slices of cooked ham
• 2 eggs (for a variation)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by lighting your Maximus wood-fired oven. It will be at the right temperature by the time you prepare the recipe.
2. Preparation of Mornay sauce (some, like our chef, call it Mornaise sauce, but the result is the same!)
3. Melt the butter over low heat
4. Add the flour and leave on low heat, continuing to whisk until the mixture browns a little.
5. Add the milk little by little to avoid lumps forming. Chef's tip: to save a little time on cooking, you can warm the milk a little before adding it to your béchamel sauce.
6. Cook over low heat until smooth and creamy.
7. Add the cumin and egg, then mix.
8. Finally, add some of the grated cheese provided for assembly.
9. Assembling the croque-monsieurs
10. Place 4 slices of sandwich bread on a baking sheet and spread them with a generous layer of Mornay sauce.
11. Place the ham so that it completely covers the slices of bread.
12. Add the grated cheese, making sure to keep some cheese aside.
13. Spread the sauce on the other 4 slices, in a thinner layer than for the bottoms, and place them on top of the grated cheese, sauce side up.
14. Spread the remaining grated cheese on top. This will give you lightly toasted croque-monsieurs.
15. Variation: To make a croque-madame, press down lightly on the center of the croque-monsieur with a spatula and crack an egg into the hole. Only do this if you like a runny egg, as it won't cook completely during cooking!
16. Bake on a baking tray in your Maximus oven at a temperature of around 250°C, without flames.
17. Let it cook for about 15 minutes.
18. Serve straight from the oven with a nice green or mixed salad. This will give you an easy, filling, and delicious meal, perfect for a casual meal. Enjoy!
    Want to mix things up? Add thin slices of goat cheese or Bleu d'Auvergne cheese, or replace the ham with smoked salmon or bacon. You can also add mushrooms or pieces of walnuts to the sauce... In short, you can be creative with a croque-monsieur, so don't hesitate, have fun!

To take your cooking experience to a new level, discover the essential accessories for your MAXIMUS and MAXIMUS PRIME wood-fired oven:

• MAXIMUS Accessories
• MAXIMUS PRIME Accessories