Croque Monsieur Recipe with Goat Cheese and Mushrooms (and Meet Eric Eyre)
This croque monsieur recipe with goat cheese, béchamel sauce, mushrooms, and Gruyerés, is simply sublime! While not an authentic version of the recipe, it is definitely a delicious competitor.
I must give credit for this creation to Ken’s Artisan Bakery in Portland (Oregon), via my friend Lori, who selected this croque monsieur recipe from their menu when we visited.
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Last November, I met my friend, Lori, for a few days. It was a long-planned girls’ getaway in Portland before she attended a conference there. Lori is one of my best friends and such an amazing person. She co-founded the non-profit Appalachian Reading Center in Charleston, WV (currently, there are three locations). It’s one of my favorite non-profits to support.
Although we met over 30 years ago in San Diego when we worked together at a child protection agency, Lori now lives in West Virginia with her husband, Eric Eyre.
Maybe I’ll write about Portland and our adventures another time, but for now–
Meet Eric Eyre, Pulitzer Prize Winner
I want to take this opportunity to tell you about my friend, Eric. You see, Eric is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who won the prize for investigative reporting for exposing the opioid crisis in West Virginia. While that is an impressive feat, Eric’s persona is even more awe-inspiring.
I could write so much about Eric, but given that you’re here for a recipe, I just want to point you in Eric’s direction, ask you to read his book, and an article or two, so you can be inspired, too. Trust me on this, Eric Eyre is an inspiration for all of us. If you want your faith restored in human beings, Eric will do that for you; not so much for the people he has written about–fair warning.
Thank you for allowing me to digress from the recipe, but if you read about Eric, you will agree that he is a phenomenal human being, and you will completely understand why I felt the need to tell you about him. If you learn a little more about Eric, or read his book, Death in Mud Lick, please let me know below in the comments.
✧
Back to the croque monsieur recipe with goat cheese and mushrooms. As I stated earlier, Lori had ordered this for lunch one day during our Portland trip. We just fell in love with Ken’s Artisan Bakery, and must have eaten there at least three times! Here is her croque portabello, as was written on the menu.
This may or may not look appealing to you, but believe me, it was outstanding. The combination of flavors from the bechamel sauce, goat cheese, Gruyeré cheese, thyme and portabello mushroom, along with the incredibly crusty bread, was perfection. Speaking of Swiss cheese, don’t miss learning all about raclette!
Although I loved my ham and butter baguette sandwich, I immediately regretted not choosing what Lori ordered after tasting a bite of hers. Don’t you hate it when that happens? It wasn’t the first time for me!
I knew then that I would have to re-create this twist on a croque monsieur recipe at home, and I did. It is definitely a winner, and now you can make it, too.
Croque Monsieur Recipe
with Goat Cheese and Mushrooms
inspired by Ken’s Artisan Bakery in Portland, OR makes 4 servings
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Béchamel sauce
- butter
- flour
- milk
- salt
- white pepper
- nutmeg
slices of fresh, artisan-style, crusty bread
Toppings
- fresh thyme
- goat cheese
- mushrooms (portobello, crimini, white, or any type you prefer)
- Gruyère cheese
Make the Béchamel sauce.
Place the butter in a small saucepan over low heat to melt, then add the flour. Stir and cook for a few minutes, then begin adding the milk a little at a time. Continue stirring and adding until it’s all used and you have a creamy sauce. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg and taste to adjust seasoning.
Spread some of the béchamel onto each slice of lightly toasted bread.
Spread until it is covered.
Sprinkle with some fresh thyme.
Next, add the goat cheese to each piece.
Top with the mushrooms of your choice.
Sprinkle with some Gruyère cheese and grill/broil until hot and bubbly. This works well in an air fryer, too.
Cut in half to serve, put on a plate and garnish with some thyme. Add some colorful pickles or salad to the plate.
You have just made this delicious croque monsieur recipe!
It may not win any beauty contest, but the flavor is phenomenal! Need a super easy mushroom, cheese on toast recipe instead?
Croque Monsieur Recipe with Goat Cheese and Mushrooms
Ingredients
Béchamel sauce:
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 3 ½ Tbsp flour
- 1 ½ cup whole milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp white pepper (freshly ground)
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg (dash, grated)
Bread:
- 4 slices bread (fresh- artisan-style, crusty bread, very lightly toasted)
Toppings:
- ⅛ tsp fresh thyme (pinch)
- 3 oz goat cheese (in small pieces)
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms (freshly sautéed- can be portobello, crimini, white, or any type you prefer)
- 2 oz Gruyère cheese (to sprinkle on top)
Instructions
- Make the Béchamel Sauce by placing the butter in a small pot over low heat to melt, then add the flour. Stir and cook for a few minutes, then begin adding the milk a little at a time. Continue stirring and adding until it's all used and you have a creamy sauce. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg and taste to adjust seasoning.
- Spread some of the Béchamel Sauce onto each slice of lightly toasted bread until it is covered. Sprinkle with some fresh thyme.
- Next, add the goat cheese to each piece and top with the mushrooms of your choice.
- Sprinkle with some Gruyère cheese and grill/broil until hot and bubbly. Works well in an air fryer, too.
- Cut in half to serve, put on a plate and garnish with some thyme. Add some colorful pickles or salad to the plate.
Notes
- Quality of ingredients are key!
Nutrition
Try these delicious marinated mushrooms, too!
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This reminds me very much of a creamy mushroom tartine in had for lunch one day in Austria. You are right, it is a wonderful combination of flavors.
Anything with cheese and mushrooms is beautiful in my book. Seriously. What a depressing topic for a book. Hats off to Eric.
Thanks, Mimi! Eric is a hero!
You had me after mentioning goat cheese and mushrooms! This recipe sounds easy and delicious. I’ll be making this soon. Thanks!
Don’t think me a pill, but I would call this a lovely and perfect goat cheese and mushroom tartine – as it is not a croque monsieur! It looks beyond fabulous – but I am a lover of a real croque monsieur to the point where I have to have the perfect bread for it (pain de mie). I can be such a food snob. Again, your looks so perfect – and I have all the ingredients because today is shopping day AND because Mark just made a beautiful crusty boule! We are set for dinner. No kidding – I had no idea what we were going to have till now! xo
Trust me, I know it’s not a croque monsieur, but that’s what it was called at the bakery where my friend had it. I’m so glad you’re inspired, and it will be so good on that crusty boule! :)
It was perfect! Each bite made me anxious that the sandwich was almost done will definitely make this again! My goat cheese was fresh from the market and I was so glad I was able to get nice mushrooms there, too. I bet yours was better than at the restaurant!
That’s awesome, David! I only had one bite at the restaurant, but it was enough to make me want to make it at home. So glad I did! :)
Delicious and easy .
Thanks, Louise!
this looks sublime to me. i love cheese and mushrooms together. what a delight. will check up eric’s book if i can.
I can see why you’d love this creamy mix of bechamel and goat’s cheese! Looks wonderful, and great for mushroom season kicking in too. Look forward to hearing more about Portland and looking in to Eric’s book. He does sound wonderful!