Croque Señor Recipe

Croque Señor is a Spanish-inspired twist on the classic French Croque Monsieur, featuring serrano ham or chorizo with Manchego cheese and creamy béchamel sauce. This toasted sandwich is baked until golden and bubbly, combining French technique with bold Spanish flavors for a satisfying meal.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 8

Servings: 4

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: French

Calories: 430

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Spicy Tomato Salsa:

3 ripe but firm tomatoes finely chopped
1 red bell pepper halved, seeded, roasted, peeled, and finely chopped
1 garlic clove crushed
2 scallions thinly sliced
1 fresh green jalapeño halved, seeded, and chopped
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Salt to taste

For the Sandwich:

8 slices of white bread
4 slices of aged Cheddar cheese
4 slices of ham
2 tbsp butter softened

To Serve:

Lemon wedges
Cilantro sprigs

Method

Begin by preparing the spicy tomato salsa, which serves as the heart of this sandwich. Combine 3 ripe but firm tomatoes (finely chopped), 1 red bell pepper (roasted, peeled, and finely chopped), 1 crushed garlic clove, 2 thinly sliced scallions, 1 fresh green jalapeño (halved, seeded, and chopped), and 1 tbsp red wine vinegar in a bowl.
Season with salt to taste and set aside. This salsa can be made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld and develop, which actually enhances the final sandwich.
Assemble the sandwiches by laying 4 slices of white bread onto a work board. Arrange 4 slices of aged Cheddar cheese on each slice, followed by the ham slices.
Spoon the prepared salsa generously over the ham, distributing it evenly across each sandwich. This is where the Croque Señor distinguishes itself from traditional versions—the fresh, zesty salsa provides brightness against the rich cheese and ham.
Heat a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Lightly spread 2 tbsp of softened butter over one side of the remaining 4 bread slices and place them butter-side up on top of the salsa.
Cook each sandwich butter-side down until the cheese begins to melt and the bread becomes golden brown. This typically takes 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Once cooked through and the cheese is fully melted, transfer the sandwiches to a serving plate and accompany with lemon wedges and fresh cilantro sprigs for added brightness and an optional citrus accent.

Notes

What is Croque Señor?

Croque Señor is a Spanish-inspired variation of the classic French Croque Monsieur sandwich. While the traditional French version uses ham and Gruyère cheese, Croque Señor typically features Spanish ingredients like serrano ham or chorizo, Manchego cheese, and sometimes piquillo peppers. The sandwich consists of toasted bread filled with meat and cheese, topped with creamy béchamel sauce, then baked or grilled until golden and bubbly. This delicious fusion combines French sandwich-making technique with bold Spanish flavors, creating a satisfying meal perfect for lunch or a hearty snack.