Croque Madame is a delectable toasted sandwich filled with ham and creamy Mornay sauce and topped with a sunny side-up egg. It’s a perfect brunch sandwich for any weekend.
- Author: Beth Pierce
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: breakfast
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: French
INGREDIENTS
MORNAY SAUCE
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups milk warmed
- 3/4 cup shredded gruyere cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1–2 pinches nutmeg (optional)
SANDWICH
- 8 slices bakery quality white bread
- 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 8 thin slices deli style ham
- 4 large eggs
- salt and pepper to taste
Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly. Slowly whisk in the milk and simmer over low heat until slightly thickened, approximately 8-10 minutes. Whisk frequently to prevent lumps and scorching.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the cheese in 3 parts. Season with salt and pepper to taste and if desired, 1-2 pinches of nutmeg. Cover to keep warm while you assemble the sandwiches.
- Prepare the sandwiches on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper. On 2 toasted bread slices, spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard. Place 2 slices of ham on 1 slice. Spoon 2 heaping tablespoons of Mornay sauce over the ham. Top with the other slice of toast with the Dijon side down. Top the whole sandwich with 2 tablespoons of Mornay sauce. Repeat preparing the other 3 sandwiches.
- Cook 4 eggs sunny side up in a nonstick skillet. Place the baking sheet in the oven under the broiler. Broil until lightly browned. Stay close by, as broilers are unpredictable. Top each sandwich with one sunny-side-up egg. Sprinkle with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
NOTES
- If your mornings are crazy busy like mine, give yourself a break and make the Béchamel Sauce ahead of time.
- Use good quality cheese, bread, and ham. It really does make a difference.
- Watch the sandwich closely under the broiler. Broilers are very unpredictable, and you don’t want all this work gone to waste.
- You can top the sandwich with poached, over easy, or sunny-side-up eggs.
- To make it a Croque Monsieur sandwich, leave off the egg. Voila!
- Serve promptly so everything is warm, and the bread is still crusty.
