All-American classics, such as the grilled cheese, Philly cheesesteak, and PB&J are always a treat. But if you’re looking to class up your breakfast (or lunch, snack, or dinner), you can’t go wrong with these French sandwiches. These sandwiches are made of just 2 components: crusty toasted French bread and savory fillings. The combo is very simple and straightforward, but together, they create magic. What makes them even more irresistible is how gorgeous they are! Try to look at a Croque Madame and not have a bite. From the different croques to flaky croissants, this list is complete with sandwiches the haute cuisine has to offer. Bon appétit!
1. Croque Monsieur
Kicking things off is the Croque Monsieur, which is like a grilled sandwich, but on steroids. First of all, what a thing of beauty, am I right? If you’re on a diet, I suggest you skip ahead. This sandwich isn’t for you. From the words “croquer,” which means to bite; and “monsieur,” meaning mister, Croque Monsieur literally means a gentleman’s sandwich. It’s not just for the gents, though, but for everyone to enjoy. Croque Monsieur is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a creamy bechamel sauce and Dijon mustard. The sandwich is grilled in butter until golden and toasty. Then, it’s smothered with even more Bechamel and cheese on top and broiled until the cheese oozes.
2. Pan Bagnat: Le French Tuna Salad Sandwich
Pan bagnat is what a Nicoise salad would look like if it had been transformed into a sandwich. Widely sold all over the Mediterranean coast, this French tuna salad sandwich is always made with fresh ingredients. It has tomatoes, olives, onion, basil, bell pepper, and more. The vegetables are mixed with canned tuna in olive oil and tossed with a tangy vinaigrette. The salad is spooned into a semi-hollowed-out baguette half and closed with another. The sandwich is then wrapped snuggly in plastic wrap and flattened with a heavy object such as a brick or cast-iron skillet. It’s stored in the fridge overnight to allow all the bread to soak in the salad’s juices and served cold the next day. Fun fact: pan bagnat literally translates to “bathed bread.” The crusty bread absorbs the juices from the salad as it sits in the fridge, hence the name.
3. French Tartine Recipe – Goat’s Cheese and Red Pepper
Unlike the first two recipes, this next French bread comes together quickly. Also, it only calls for 5 ingredients. Cheers to simple yet satisfying sandwiches! This French tartine is an open-faced sandwich with a slice of toasted sourdough at the bottom. It’s smeared with soft goat’s cheese and topped with slices of roasted red and yellow peppers and basil. You can roast the peppers yourself, but you can also make things easy with a jar of roasted peppers.
4. Jambon-Beurre Sandwich
Jambon-beurre is a simple, 3-ingredient sandwich that’s insanely popular in France. So much so that over 3 million of these sandwiches are sold every single day! Jambon beurre is French for “ham butter,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like, a sandwich with ham and butter. The combination of tender and salty ham and rich butter is a match made in heaven. To prepare it, all you need is to slice a fresh baguette in half lengthwise. Slather the halved bread with butter and top it with thin slices of ham. Close the sandwich with the other bread half and enjoy.
5. Croque Madame
The “female” version of Croque Monsieur, the Croque Madame has all the same elements as the said sandwich, but with a piece of fried egg on top. For this reason, I like Croque Madame more! There’s just something so satisfying about cutting through the egg and watching that golden yolk ooze down the sandwich. The thought of it is already making my mouth water. Bread, ham, gruyere, bechamel, and egg all together in one bite is a sandwich paradise.
6. Prosciutto and Brie Baguette Sandwich
Nothing elevates a sandwich better than prosciutto and brie cheese. It’s amazing how two seemingly simple ingredients can make a huge transformation. The sandwich fillings are held inside two halves of a crusty buttered baguette, creating a perfect hand-held snack or meal. You’ll love the mix of salty meat and creamy and nutty cheese here! The butter smothered on the bread also adds another layer of rich umaminess. Because it’s such an easy-to-pack and carry a sandwich, it’s perfect to bring to picnics and potlucks. It also makes for a great breakfast on the go!
7. French Pressed-Brick Sandwich
This next sandwich’s name might not have the most mouthwatering-sounding name, but wait until you hear what it is. A French pressed-brick sandwich is made with hollowed-out slices of ciabatta bread and layers of savory fillings. In this recipe, the fillings include brie, prosciutto, ham, oven-roasted tomatoes, artichoke pesto, and more. The bread and fillings are brushed with an olive oil and vinegar dressing to moisten them. Then, the sandwich is wrapped in a plastic wrapper and refrigerated overnight with a brick or a heavy cast-iron skillet set on top of it. The weight of the brick or skillet presses the sandwich layers together, allowing the bread to soak up the dressing. The result is a stunning and satisfying sandwich that can be eaten as a whole or sliced thinly to make bite-sized appetizers.
8. French Dip Sandwich
If you love Philly cheesesteak, you’ll surely fall for this French dip sandwich. It’s a hot sandwich made of a toasted French baguette brimming with roast beef and melty cheese. And we all know how amazing the combo of roast beef, melty cheese, and bread is. But it doesn’t end there. The sandwich is served with a bowl of extra beef juice or au just on the side to dunk the bad boy in. The au jus softens the crusty baguette. It gives you that wonderful crunchy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside experience. As an added bonus, this sandwich comes together in just 10 minutes. It’s an ideal last-minute lunch or dinner.
9. Smoked Ham (or Prosciutto) & Gruyere Croissants
Honestly, this next sandwich needs no introduction. I mean, I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like croissants! Let’s take a moment to ooh and aah at the beauty that is this croissant. With its visibly flaky and golden brown exterior, no amount of self-control can keep you from wanting a bite. Inside this glorious pastry is a classic combination of smoked ham (or prosciutto) and melty Gruyere. Together, they’re a perfect match. Unlike most pastry recipes that I share here, this one calls for making your own Danish pastry. It seems intimidating and I completely get it, but you’ve got this! It’s definitely worth the extra work.
10. Parisian Steak and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches
Here’s another croissant you’ll surely lust over! These steak and cheese croissant sandwiches are like a cross between the French dip sandwich and the French tartine. If you can’t decide between the two, you should absolutely make this one. Here’s how it goes. Croissants are filled with brie, arugula, thinly sliced medium-rare steak, and roasted red bell peppers. From the colors to the complementing tastes and textures, this croissant sandwich gets a perfect 10. It even gets bonus points for being super easy to make! Click on a star to rate it!
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