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Saffron Makes this Sandwich from Nîmes Unique

The following recipe comes from a loyal reader and resident of Nîmes. There are many reasons to visit Nîmes, but finding a restaurant that serves this delicious sandwich might be one more. Thank you Gilles Deschamps for sharing the recipe for Crocus de Nîmes with us. The sandwich is a variation of a croque monsieur using ingredients, such as saffron, honey, and tapenade that are found in the South of France. If you are visiting Nîmes, try this sandwich at Brasserie le Printemps, or go upscale at Hostellerie Le Castellas.

What’s in a name?

The Latin-sounding name “Crocus” derives from two themes: It’s a kind of croque monsieur and it contains saffron, from the crocus flower.

Le nom « Crocus », à consonance latine, découle de deux thèmes: C’est une sorte de croque-monsieur et il comporte du safran, issu de la fleur du crocus.

Enjoy!

Sandwich Crocus de Nîmes

Crocus de Nîmes a Sandwich

This original lunchtime recipe is the gastronomic emblem of Nîmes. All of the ingredients could have been found during Roman times.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch Dish, Snack
Cuisine French
Servings 1 person

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 Pélardon (goat cheese) cut into slices
  • 2 slices Wholemeal Bread
  • 2 tbsp Green Olive Tapenade Picholine du Gard
  • a handful of Flaked Almonds from the Gard
  • a few slices of Sweet Onion from the Cévennes – sliced
  • 1 tbsp Honey from the Cévennes
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil high-quality
  • a sprinkle of Dried Thyme aromatic herb from the garrigue
  • a sprinkle of saffron

Instructions
 

  • Lightly sprinkle the bread with the saffron and with a dribble of olive oil.
  • Spread green tapenade on one slice of bread.
  • Put the goat's cheese in the middle.
  • Spread a thin layer of honey over the top.
  • Sprinkle on some flaked almonds.
  • Garnish with slices of sweet onion.
  • Cover with the second slice of bread.
  • Drizzle some olive oil on the bread.
  • Put it into a toasted sandwich machine or put it under the grill until the bread is golden and crusty. Enjoy!
Keyword Almonds, Lunch Dish, Olives, Sandwich
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Sandwich Crocus de Nîmes

Recette du Crocus de Nîmes

Une recette originale qui est l'emblème gastronomique de Nîmes. Tous les ingrédients auraient pu être trouvés à l'époque romaine.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch Dish, Snack
Cuisine French
Servings 1 la personne

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 Pélardon coupé horizontalement
  • 2 tranches de pain complet ou de pain de mie
  • 1 ou 2 cuillerées à café selon les goûts de tapenade verte (de préférence de Picholine)
  • quelques amandes effilées peu, seulement pour la sensation de craquant
  • des lamelles d’oignon doux des Cévennes quantité : selon le goût du consommateur
  • 1 cuillerée à café de miel des Cévennes ou des Garrigues
  • une grosse pincée d’herbes de Provence dont du thym
  • une petite pointe de safran
  • 2 cuillerées à café d’huile d’olive de qualité supérieure

Instructions
 

  • Sur la tranche inférieure du croque-monsieur:
  • Mettre l’huile l’olive, après y avoir intégré le safran, sur la surface du pain
  • Étaler la tapenade
  • Poser le Pélardon au centre
  • Mettre le miel sur le Pélardon
  • Répartir les oignons sur la surface de la tranche de pain
  • Rajouter les amandes
  • Saupoudrer d’herbes de Provence
  • Recouvrir avec la seconde tranche de pain
  • faire chauffer dans un appareil à croque-monsieur jusqu’à ce que le pain soit légèrement doré

Notes

On peut y ajouter un peu d’oignon (doux ou fort) préalablement un peu roussi à la poêle.
Keyword Lunch Dish, Sandwich
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Ideas for Lunchtime Meals

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Check out this recipe
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