TikTok creator Ben Rebuck has reinvented the classic croque monsieur by swapping ham for smoked salmon, creating a 'Croque Lox' that he describes as sweet, salty, creamy, and fatty. The video has garnered over 55,700 views, 4,246 likes, and 65 comments since its April posting.
What is a Croque Lox?
Ben Rebuck's Croque Lox combines the French classic croque monsieur with the bold flavors of a bagel. Instead of ham, he uses smoked salmon (lox) and a generous schmear of New York-style cream cheese. The sandwich is then topped with a Hollandaise-béchamel sauce hybrid for a gloriously molten tang.
In the video caption, Ben wrote: 'This is what happens when a bagel order meets a French café and zero flying f's are given. But all jokes aside, this slaps so hard.' He insists that salmon is a far superior alternative to the smoky ham traditionally featured in a croque monsieur.
Ingredients and Method
To replicate Ben's recipe, you'll need four thick slices of challah, 150–200g smoked salmon, butter for frying, and for the schmear mix: 150g cream cheese, half a small red onion finely diced, one tablespoon fresh dill chopped, one tablespoon fresh chives chopped, zest of half a lemon, one teaspoon lemon juice, and black pepper. For the Hollandaise béchamel: 25g butter, 25g plain flour, 250ml milk, one egg yolk, juice of half a lemon, one teaspoon Dijon mustard, and salt and black pepper.
Method: Combine the 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. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Remove from heat, then whisk in the egg yolk, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Keep warm. Build the sandwich by spreading the schmear on challah, layering with smoked salmon, and closing. Butter the outside and fry until golden. Spoon over the warm sauce and grate cheese on top, then grill. Optionally add extra dill, lemon, and black pepper.
Reactions and Popularity
Comments on the video have been overwhelmingly positive. Lexi remarked: 'Smoked salmon is absolutely the right replacement for ham.' Another user commented, 'Absolutely tremendous, can I take two,' while Rosa concurred, 'This looks absolutely delicious.' Teddy noted: 'Bro that bread is next level.'
This creative twist on a classic comfort food offers a quick and satisfying meal with a hint of refinement, perfect for lunchtime experimentation.
