Dining and Cooking
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Croque-Madame

This is a variation of Amanda Hesser’s croque-monsieur, a ham and Gruyere sandwich topped with béchamel. Here, we invite you to pop a fried egg on top. Voila! A croque-madame (reportedly named such because the egg resembles a lady’s wide-brimmed hat).

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly grated nutmeg
  • 4 1/3-inch-thick slices country bread
  • 4 thin slices French ham
  • 2 thin slices Gruyere cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

      640 calories; 50 grams fat; 28 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 15 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 28 grams protein; 333 milligrams cholesterol; 1023 milligrams sodium

      • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

2 sandwiches

Preparation

  1. Preheat a two-sided electric griddle on medium-high to high for about 20 minutes, or preheat the oven to 300 degrees and preheat a cast-iron skillet on top of the stove for about 5 minutes. Prepare a bechamel sauce: in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. When bubbles have subsided, add flour and whisk vigorously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil, and cook until thick. Remove from heat, and season to taste with salt and nutmeg.
  2. Spread two slices of bread generously with sauce. Lay two slices of ham on top of each, and top each with a slice of cheese; ham and cheese should slightly overlap edges of bread. Top each with a slice of bread.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt remaining the 4 tablespoons butter. Brush the sandwiches on both sides with butter, making sure that the edges are well covered. If you’re using a griddle, place cheese side down, close the griddle and cook until the bread is toasted dark and cheese is leaking out and bubbling. If you’re using a skillet, place sandwiches cheese side down and cook on stove top until well browned, then turn and brown again. Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling. Meanwhile, fry the eggs in a skillet with little butter. Slide one fried egg onto each sandwich. Serve hot.

20 minutes

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