FOOD
Decadent Croque Madame
You've never tasted a fried egg-topped ham and cheese sandwich as rich and creamy as this before.
FOOD
Decadent Croque Madame
You've never tasted a fried egg-topped ham and cheese sandwich as rich and creamy as this before.
Ingredients
Bechamel sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups whole milk, at room temperature
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 1/2 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Decadent Croque Madame
- 5 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
- 8 thick slices rustic bread
- 1-2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
- 12 slices Black Forest ham
- 2 1/3 cups grated Gruyere cheese
- 4 eggs
- Sea salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
- 2 cups micro greens
- Crème fraîche
- Aleppo or cayenne pepper
Steps
Bechamel sauce
- Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet set over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the milk, whisking all the while. Whisk in thyme leaves, mustard, nutmeg and salt.
- Stir occasionally as the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Decadent Croque Madame
- Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Spread mustard on the opposite side of each slice, then top each with 3 slices of ham, followed by 2 tablespoons of bechamel sauce and a small handful of cheese. Sandwich together with remaining slices of bread, butter side up.
- Preheat broiler.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and, working in batches, toast sandwiches until golden, about 3-4 minutes.
- Flip sandwiches over, top each with about 1/4 to 1/3 cup sauce, spreading evenly, and the remaining cheese. Broil until the cheese has melted and is bubbly and golden in spots, about 3-4 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Crack in eggs and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the whites are just set and yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.
- To serve, top each sandwich with a fried egg. Sprinkle with chopped chives, micro greens, and a pinch of Aleppo pepper. Serve immediately.