Nutritions

Calories:
556 kcal
Protein:
28 g
Carbohydrates:
430 mg
Sugar:
10 mg
Salt:
1 g
Energy:
2334 kJ
Fat:
42 g

Directions

1

Gather Ingredients

Gather all the necessary ingredients for the Croque Madame.
2

Prepare the Roux

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3

Add Milk and Seasonings

Add the milk, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of nutmeg, stirring for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture thickens.
4

Combine Cheeses

Mix in the Parmesan cheese and half of the Gruyère cheese until well combined.
5

Prepare the Sandwich Base

On a baking sheet, place two slices of bread and spread a layer of Dijon mustard on top, if desired. Layer the ham evenly over both slices of bread.
6

Assemble the Sandwiches

Spread a layer of the thick cheese sauce over the ham, then top with the remaining Gruyère and another slice of bread.
7

Cook the Sandwiches

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Brush the tops of the sandwiches with some melted butter.
8

Brown the Sandwiches

Place the sandwiches in the skillet, buttered side down. Brush more butter over the tops and cook for 2 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
9

Add Cheese Sauce

Move the sandwiches to the baking sheet and pour the remaining cheese sauce over the tops, ensuring the edges are covered to prevent burning.
10

Prepare the Eggs

Position a rack in the top third of the oven and turn it to broil. In a nonstick skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Crack each egg into a ramekin and gently add them to the skillet.
11

Cook the Eggs

Cover the skillet with a lid and let the eggs cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the whites are firm and the yolks remain runny. Simultaneously, broil the sandwiches for about 2 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and browning.
12

Serve the Dishe

Transfer the sandwiches to plates and place a fried egg on each. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and serve immediately.

The lusciously rich and cheesy croque-madame sandwich is a variation on the famous croque-monsieur. The croque-madame is similar to the croque-monsieur in almost every way. Both include ham, a creamy béchamel sauce, and Gruyère cheese, but the croque-madame is topped off with a fried egg. The runny egg yolk adds a rich sauciness to this substantial sandwich.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Crunch

Fun fact: "croque-monsieur" means Mr. Crunch, while "croque-madame" means "Mrs. Crunch."

This hot sandwich makes any occasion extra special. Serve a croque-madame for breakfast or brunch, or make a batch for dinner and serve with a salad on the side. Don't forget the knife and fork—this isn't a sandwich you can easily pick up.

Mind Your Mise en Place and Timing

It's essential to read the recipe carefully and have all your ingredients, pans, and utensils ready. It's a fast and easy preparation, but the recipe has several time-sensitive cooking steps.

What Does a Croque-Madame Contain?

Here's everything you'll need to make a classic croque-madame.

Bread: Choose a bread that's somewhat soft and not overly thick for your sandwich. Sliced brioche or country-style bread are excellent choices, or use your favorite sourdough or white sandwich bread.

Ham: Use thinly sliced leftover baked ham or good-quality deli ham for these sandwiches. French-style jambon de Paris is a great choice.

Béchamel Sauce: Béchamel is a basic white sauce that's so much more than the sum of its parts (which are simply butter, flour, milk, and a few seasonings). It adds a wonderful creaminess to the classic croque-monsieur and croque-madame.

Cheese: Both the croque-monsieur and the croque-madame typically contains nutty Gruyère cheese and sometimes Parmesan as well, as in this recipe. All of the Parmesan and half of the Gruyère are stirred into the béchamel—the addition of cheese technically transforms the béchamel into a mornay sauce. Then the rest of the grated Gruyère is sprinkled into the sandwich to create a gooey, melted layer of goodness.

Dijon Mustard: While spreading the sandwich with Dijon mustard is optional, it adds a wonderful sharpness that plays nicely against all the rich ingredients.

Butter: You'll need unsalted butter to make the béchamel and to cook the sandwiches and the fried eggs. It's pretty butter-forward recipe, and that's part of what makes it such a treat!

Fried Egg: Along with the croque-monsieur's bread, ham, creamy sauce, and cheese, the croque-madame gets a fried egg topper. While you can fry the eggs any way you like them, a runny yolk adds to the luxuriousness of this sandwich.

A "Hat" Is the One Difference Between a Croque-Monsieur and a Croque-Madame

As noted above, the only difference between a croque-monsieur and a croque-madame is that a croque-madame is topped with a fried egg. The croque-madame is thought to get its feminine name from the fact that the fried egg resembles a woman's hat.

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Recipe Variation

Instead of Dijon mustard, use a mustard-mayo spread made with 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise.

Writen by

Alex

I'm Alex, the dedicated AI chef who guides your culinary journey. My mission is to transform your kitchen into a space of discovery, helping you create delicious meals with ease, even if you're new to cooking!