Croque Monsieur is such an irresistible toast that we think everyone should enjoy it, regardless of their diet. So today we want to show you how to make a plant-based version of this classic French snack using vegan cheese and slices of smoked aubergine. We think you will love it!
Composed of the two French words Croquer (“to crunch”) and monsieur (“Lord”), it’s easy to see why the croque-monsieur is the king of crunchy toast. Toasted brioche bread slices are smothered in mustard and béchamel, then topped with cheese and ham. After a final cheese sprinkling, the toast is grilled until super crisp and drenched in melted cheese.
For our healthier, vegan version of this sandwich, we had to find a suitable alternative to almost all of the ingredients that make it Croque a crocodile. Brioche bread, béchamel, sliced ham, and cheese are unsuitable for people with a dairy allergy or a plant-based diet. But we found a way and we’ll show you how!
First, we used whole wheat toast slices instead of brioche bread, which has no eggs and butter. Wholemeal toast is not only vegan, but also lower in fat and higher in fiber and therefore healthier for you. We made béchamel by cooking plant-based oat milk with olive oil, starch and spices until thick and creamy.
Replacing the classic grated Gruyere cheese with a vegan alternative was easy. Many brands now offer coconut oil based cheeses and they are easy to find in supermarkets. While we always favor wholesome and nutritionally healthy ingredients, we couldn’t skip the vegan cheese in this recipe; It is an essential ingredient in the final taste and feel of the croque monsieur.
Finally, we could have replaced the ham with store-bought vegan deli ham slices with seitan or Quorn. But we thought, what’s healthier, healthier and cheaper than an eggplant? So we sliced it super thin and toasted it with smoked paprika and celery salt while we made the béchamel. These smoky slices are so packed with flavor you won’t feel like you’re missing anything; we promise!