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Lightened Up Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese Recipe

February 20, 2014 by Jeanette 17 Comments

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This Lightened Up Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese is rich and creamy but has 60% less calories than the traditional sandwich. You’ll be surprised by the secret ingredient.
Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese © Jeanette's Healthy Living
A number of years ago when I was in my French food phase, I made Croque Monsieur for the first time. It’s a fancy grilled cheese that’s filled with gruyere cheese and ham, then topped with a creamy bechamel sauce – talk about decadent. It was definitely over the top both in richness and calories.

Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese © Jeanette's Healthy Living
My kids even thought it was too rich. So, recently, when I was playing around with cauliflower as a creamy substitute in my Skinny New England Clam Chowder, I decided to try using the same cauliflower cream sauce idea in place of the traditional bechamel sauce.

Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese

To further shave calories off, I served this skinny downed Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese open face, with just one slice of bread. The traditional Croque Monsieur sandwich clocks in at over 800 calories. This skinnied down version has 340 calories and it’s got the added nutrition from cauliflower in the cream sauce.

Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese © Jeanette's Healthy Living
This was a big hit with my kids and they had no idea there was cauliflower in this sandwich.

Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese © Jeanette's Healthy Living
I love it when I figure out a way to sneak in more vegetables without anyone noticing ;).

Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese © Jeanette's Healthy Living

Today, I’m participating in Food Network’s Comfort Food Feast where Melted Cheese Sandwiches are being featured. Please be sure to check out what my fellow foodie friends made:

Blue Apron Blog: The Tastiest Grilled Cheese Fillings
Weelicious: Grilled Cheese and Pickle Panini
Devour: Kelsey’s Decadent Grilled Cheese
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Inside Out Grilled Strawberry and Cheese Sandwiches
Daily*Dishin: Grilled Pimento Cheese with Instant Pickles
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Pork Stew in Port Wine Sauce with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Red or Green: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Three Pepper Cheese, Grilled Onions and Pickled Jalapenos
Dishing With Divya: Egg and Mushroom Cheese Sandwich
Domesticate Me: Barbecue Chicken Grilled Cheese
Taste With The Eyes: Bulgogi Panino with Kimchi, Cheddar and Ssamjang Mayo
Virtually Homemade: Creamy Roasted Tomato and Basil Grilled Cheese with Bacon
The Sensitive Epicure: Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich with Apple, Walnuts and Thyme (Gluten-Free)
FN Dish: 10 Grown-Up Grilled Cheeses
Print

Skinny Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 5

Ingredients

Cauliflower Croque Monsieur Sauce

  • 2 1/2 cups cauliflower cooked until tender
  • 1/2 cup low-fat milk
  • a few sprinkles of fresh ground nutmeg
  • salt to taste
  • 1 cup shredded raw milk rBST-free gruyere cheese

Croque Monsieur

  • 5 slices Ezekiel whole grain bread or gluten-free whole grain bread
  • 5 slices uncured organic ham
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Place cauliflower and milk in blender and blend until smooth. Season with nutmeg and salt. Pour into saucepan and heat; whisk in gruyere cheese and cook until melted.
  2. Lightly toast bread; place a slice of ham on each piece of toast. Spoon cauliflower sauce on top. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Broil until browned on top.
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Filed Under: Dinner, healthy choices, lunch, main courses

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Comments

  1. Joanne says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:09 am

    My post today was about how cauliflower is super IN right now, and this recipe totally proves it! It’s crazy how versatile it is!

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      February 20, 2014 at 11:41 am

      Just read your post Joanne – do funny, I never thought of cauliflower as being trendy, but I’m all in. I love using cauliflower as a creamy substitute in soups, sauces and now this creamy cheese sandwich. Your risotto recipe sounds delicious by the way.

      Reply
  2. Nathalie says

    February 20, 2014 at 11:33 am

    I love these kind of sandwiches, but they are so very rich. I’m defiinitely going to try this out…just as soon as I buy some cauliflower. Thanks for the great recipe, Jeannette.

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      February 20, 2014 at 11:42 am

      Nathalie – I hear you on that – this time of year, I think we all crave creamy rich foods, so I’m always trying to figure out ways to lighten them up so we can get that creamy rich satisfaction without all the fat and calories. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. mireya @myhealthyeatinghabits says

    February 21, 2014 at 12:54 am

    Jeanette,
    I love this idea! My son was just asked me the other day for a grilled cheese sandwich. He got one, but I was cringing at the thought of it. I’ll make this for sure.

    Reply
  4. Kelly says

    February 21, 2014 at 8:21 am

    My husband and lil guy love grilled cheese sandwiches but I find them a bit heavy for me so this lightened up version sounds great! Love the sneaky addition of cauliflowers in the sauce too 🙂

    Reply
  5. Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says

    February 21, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Jeanette, this looks sooooo good! I miss dairy (cheese!) so much and hope I will be able to have it again someday. (The probiotics I am now on are really helping.) Going back to my Atkins Diet and low carb ways, we always enjoyed mock mashed cheesy potatoes with cauliflower. Everyone loved it…even those not on a low carb diet. Love your inventiveness here!

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      February 21, 2014 at 9:20 pm

      Thanks Stacy! It is tough not being able to eat dairy – have you tried Daiya dairy-free cheese? Cauliflower is such an easy swap in for potatoes and cream and I’m having fun experimenting with it in the kitchen.

      Reply
  6. Sommer @ASpicyPerspective says

    February 22, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Cauliflower! This looks delish!

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      February 22, 2014 at 4:50 pm

      Thanks Sommer!

      Reply
  7. Kevin @ Closet Cooking says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:20 am

    Love a good Croque Monsieur! This one looks great and I like that it is lighter!

    Reply
  8. alison @ Ingredients, Inc says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    fabulous idea from one grilled cheese lover to another

    Reply
  9. Laura O says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    This is pretty awesome! I love being able to sneak extra vegetables in without the kids knowing or complaining. I’m sure it would taste just as wonderful on gluten free bread.

    -Laura@Petite Allergy Treats

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      February 25, 2014 at 7:51 am

      Thanks Laura – yes, great on gluten-free bread too.

      Reply
  10. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

    February 24, 2014 at 8:47 am

    Every time Eric orders one of these I always question my pescatarianism. Looks fantastic!

    Reply
  11. Mary says

    January 17, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    Big hit with my friends who I had over for lunch on a cold day. I used turkey bacon instead of ham (basted it with Dijon and baked it in the oven at 375) as a twist. Served it with a side of pasta fagioli.

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      January 18, 2015 at 12:12 am

      Mary – love the Dijon mustard – so glad your friends enjoyed this. Thanks so much for your feedback!

      Reply

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