Cheese toasties are a quick and satisfying meal, but if you want to elevate them, consider a French croque monsieur. However, a food content creator has discovered an even better protein to use instead of ham, blending French cuisine with classic bagel flavours.
The Croque Lox Innovation
TikTok creator Ben Rebuck has been reimagining beloved dishes with Jewish twists. In a recent video, he transformed the traditional croque monsieur by swapping ham for smoked salmon, a staple bagel ingredient, and adding tangy schmear.
Ben wrote in the caption: "This is what happens when a bagel order meets a French cafe and zero flying f's are given. But all jokes aside, this slaps so hard."
He argues that salmon is a superior replacement for smoky ham, intensifying flavour. To enhance it, Ben made a New York-style cream cheese smear for the salmon to sit on, creating a blend of French and bagel flavours. He added a Hollandaise-bechamel sauce hybrid for a molten tang.
"To say this works is an understatement. It was sweet, salty, creamy, fatty. It truly had everything," Ben said.
Recipe for Croque Lox
Here's how to recreate Ben's recipe at home.
Ingredients
- Four thick slices challah
- 150–200g smoked salmon (lox)
- Butter, for frying
For the schmear mix:
- 150g cream cheese
- ½ small red onion, finely diced
- One tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- One tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- Zest of ½ lemon
- One tsp lemon juice
- Black pepper
For the Hollandaise bechamel:
- 25g butter
- 25g plain flour
- 250ml milk
- One egg yolk
- Juice of ½ lemon
- One tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt & black pepper
Method
- Mix cream cheese with red onion, dill, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a pan, add flour, and cook for one to two minutes. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth and slightly loose.
- Remove from heat, whisk in egg yolk, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Keep warm.
- Build the sandwich: Spread schmear generously on challah, top with smoked salmon, and close.
- Butter the outside of the bread and fry on medium heat until golden and crisp on both sides.
- Spoon over warm schmollandaise and let it drip slightly.
- Grate cheese of choice and finish under the grill. Optional: extra dill, squeeze of lemon, black pepper. Serve and enjoy.
Ben's video has garnered over 55,700 views, 4,246 likes, and 65 comments. Lexi commented: "Smoked salmon is absolutely the right replacement for ham." Another wrote: "Absolutely tremendous, can I take two," while Rosa agreed: "This looks absolutely delicious."
