Vegan Croque Monsieur

Our vegan croque monsieur is a tasty plant-based spin of the classic French recipe. We made it with smoky eggplant slices, vegan cheese, and toasted wholewheat bread — so cheesy and irresistibly crunchy!

Vegan Croque Monsieur (With Smoky Eggplant)

Info

Nutrition per serving
NutrientAmountRDA
Net Carbs59.1 g21.5%
of which Sugars7.1 g7.9%
Fibers12.2 g43.7%
Fats20 g30.7%
of which Saturates10 g50.2%
of which Omega 30.2 g20.5%
Proteins15.4 g33.5%
Calcium328 mg32.8%
Vitamin A106 mcg15.2%
Vitamin C2 mg3%
Iron4.2 mg28.6%
Potassium522 mg14.9%
Sodium900 mg39.1%
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Kcal478 23.9%
Macro split
  • net carbs 55%
  • sugars 7%
  • fats 19%
  • saturates 9%
  • proteins 14%
  • fibers 11%
*RDA based on a 2000 kcal diet;
**Nutritional data sources: USDA, food labels.
KCAL
478 per serving
TIME
35m
HEALTH

Croque monsieur is such an irresistible toast that we believe everyone should be able to enjoy it, no matter their diet. So, today we want to show you how to make a plant-based variation of this classic French nibble using vegan cheese and smoky eggplant slices. We think you'll love it!

Made up of the two French words croquer ("to crunch") and monsieur ("mister"), it's easy to understand why the croque-monsieur is the king of crunchy toasts. Slices of toasted brioche bread are smothered with mustard and bechamel, then topped with cheese and ham. After a final sprinkle of cheese, the toast is grilled until super crusty and oozing with melted cheese.

For our healthier, vegan version of this sandwich, we had to find a proper alternative to almost all those ingredients that make the croque a croque. Brioche bread, bechamel, ham slices, and cheese are all unsuitable for folks with a dairy allergy or following a plant-based diet. But we found a way, and we'll show you how!

First, we used wholemeal toast bread slices instead of brioche bread, which doesn't contain eggs and butter. Wholewheat toast is not only vegan but also lower in fats and higher in fibres, meaning it's healthier for you. As for the bechamel, we prepared it by simmering plant-based oat milk with olive oil, starch, and spices until thick and creamy.

Replacing the classic grated Gruyèr cheese with a vegan alternative was quite simple. Many brands are now offering coconut oil-based cheeses, and they're easy to find at supermarkets. Although we always prefer wholesome and nutritionally sound ingredients, we couldn't skip the vegan cheese in this recipe; it's an essential ingredient for the final flavour and feel of the croque monsieur.

Finally, we could have replaced the ham with store-bought vegan deli ham slices made with seitan or Quorn. But we thought, what's healthier, more wholesome, and cheaper than an eggplant? So, we sliced it super thinly and let it roast with smoked paprika and celery salt while preparing the bechamel. These smoky slices are so full of flavour you won't feel you're missing anything; we promise!

Ingredients

Adjustments
Serves
Measuring System
Aubergine1/2
Smoked Paprika1/2 tsp
Celery Salt1/2 tsp
Oat Milk250 mL
Garlic Powder1/2 tsp
Onion Powder1/2 tsp
Ground Nutmeg1 pinch
Bay Leaf1
Potato Starch1 tbsp
Extra Virgin Olive Oil2 tsp
Wholemeal Toast Bread Slices4
Dijon Mustard2 tsp
Vegan Grated Cheese80 g

Step 1

Thinly slice the eggplant with a mandoline slicer or knife.

Arrange the slices flat onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper and season them with smoked paprika, celery salt, and pepper.

Then, roast them for 15 minutes at 200°C (400°F).

roasted aubergine slices

Step 2

Meanwhile, let's prepare the vegan bechamel.

Add oat milk, garlic powder, onion powder, ground nutmeg, bay leaf, salt and pepper to a pot and stir well.

Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Let the sauce sit for 10 minutes to infuse before removing the bay leaf.

how to make vegan bechamel sauce

Step 3

In a clean pot, whisk the oil with sifted starch and slowly pour in the milk.

Then, turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring.

As soon as you see the first bubbles whisk the sauce vigorously for 1 minute or until thick.

Then, remove the pot from the heat.

whisking vegan bechamel in a pot

Step 4

Now, let's assemble the croque.

For each person, take two bread slices and lightly toast them.

Then, spread each of them with mustard, followed by a layer of vegan bechamel, grated vegan cheese, and roasted aubergines.

Now, top only one slice with more bechamel and vegan cheese, as shown in the picture.

how to assemble croque monsieur

Step 5

Place the cheese-topped slice over the other and bake the croque monsieur for 15 minutes at 200°C (400°F).

When the cheese has melted and is lightly browned, remove the toast from the oven and serve it right away.

oven-baked vegan croque monsieur on a tray

Tips

  • You can swap aubergines with sliced portobello mushrooms.

  • If you're short on time, skip steps 1 to 3 and use store-bought vegan deli ham and vegan bechamel instead.