Croque Madame
User Reviews
5
Croque Madame
Description
This Croque Madame recipe starts with a smooth Mornay sauce made from butter, flour, warmed milk, Gruyere cheese, and Dijon mustard. The sauce is thickened over medium-low heat and seasoned with salt and pepper for a creamy texture and subtle tang.
The sandwich assembles toasted white or sourdough bread spread with Dijon mustard, slices of ham, a layer of Mornay sauce, and Gruyere cheese. It is baked until lightly browned and melty. Finally, a fried egg is placed on top, seasoned with salt and pepper, which adds a creamy yolk that complements the savory layers below. Chopped chives can be sprinkled on for mild herbal notes.
Croque Madame is typically served warm as a satisfying lunch or light dinner, offering a blend of crispy toast, indulgent sauce, savory ham, and velvety egg. It pairs well with salad greens or light sides.
The Mornay sauce can be prepared up to 12 hours ahead and refrigerated, becoming thick but still spreadable. For variation, poached eggs can replace sunny-side-up eggs. Watching a preparation video may aid in mastering the technique.
Ingredients
For the Mornay Sauce
- 2 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk warmed, whole
- ½ cup gruyere cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- salt Kosher salt
- black pepper Kosher salt
For the Croque Madame
- 4 lices bread white or sourdough
- 4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ lb ham sliced
- 1 cup Mornay sauce
- 1 cup gruyere cheese grated
- 2 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 4 egg large
- salt Kosher salt
- black pepper Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoon chives finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
Make the Mornay Sauce
- In a medium-sized skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat.
- Whisk in the flour, stirring often, for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the warmed milk, and cook, whisking and stirring frequently, until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir the cheese and the Dijon mustard (1 tsp).
- Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, set aside and let cool.
Make the Croque Madame Sandwiches
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the bread slices in a single layer. Toast in the oven, turning once, until lightly browned on both sides, about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Spread the tops of the toasted bread with Dijon mustard.
- Add an equal amount of the sliced ham to 2 of the bread slices. Top the ham with ¼ cup of the Mornay sauce and then sprinkle on about a ¼ cup of the cheese.
- Top with the remaining bread slices, Dijon facing down.
- Spread the remaining sauce over the tops of the sandwiches, and sprinkle each with the remaining cheese.
- Return the sandwiches to the baking sheet and bake until the cheese is melty and starting to brown slightly in spots.
- While the sandwiches are in the oven, melt 2 tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Crack and add the eggs to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the whites have just set, about 2 to 3 minutes for sunny-side-up eggs.
- Remove the sandwiches from the oven and use a spatula to plate each one. Top with the fried eggs, and garnish with chopped chives, if desired. Serve at once.
Notes
- The Mornay sauce can be prepared up to 12 hours in advance and refrigerated; it will thicken but remain spreadable.
- Sunny-side-up eggs can be substituted with poached eggs if preferred.
- Watching the accompanying video can provide helpful visual guidance.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 488 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 488kcal | 24% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
