Two Classic French-Style Sandwiches. The Croque Madame and the Croque Monsieur. These are Hot, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, with the addition of delicious bechamel sauce, which are grilled in the oven. The Croque Madame has one additional element: the fried Egg on top! Both are delicious, indulgent sandwiches!
Croque Madame / Croque Monsieur
® This is a RAS signature Recipe©
♦Prep time:15MIN ♦Cook time:15MIN ♦Yield:4SERVINGS.
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Croque Madame / Croque Monsieur
Description
The Croque Madame and Croque Monsieur are classic French "gentleman's sandwiches" that bring the authentic Parisian café experience into the home kitchen. These decadent sandwiches are built around a rich, nutmeg-scented Béchamel sauce, salty picnic ham, and a blend of Gruyère, Emmental, and Mozzarella cheeses. While both are baked until bubbly and golden, the Croque Madame is distinguished by the addition of a perfectly fried or poached egg on top, turning a savory snack into a luxurious breakfast indulgence.
Ingredients:
Instructions
Prepare the Bechamel Sauce:
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Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the flour and stir to cook.
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Mix in the flour till the lumps are gone and you get a smooth paste. You should continue till the color deepens a bit. This is your "roux".
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Now add the hot milk a little at a time, while at the same time using a wire whisk to continuously beat (to break up the lumps) and eventually get a silky smooth, thickened sauce. This process will take about a minute.
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Stir in the salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg to suit your taste. Stir till the sauce thickens slightly.
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Next, add the egg and egg yolk, and stir briskly once more to get a homogenous, silky smooth sauce.
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Lastly, add the grated mozzarella and stir again till the cheese melts through. Set aside the bechamel sauce.
Preheat the oven to 150 ºC /300 Fº.
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Brush a baking dish lightly with melted butter and add 4 slices of bread.
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Top with (about half the quantity of) the prepared Bechamel sauce. Spread evenly.
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Add most of the grated Gruyere cheese over this. You will need some for the second layer.
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Now place the picnic ham slices over this. Add 1 or 2 slices per bread (depending on how hungry you are). One slice is sufficient for me.
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Top with another layer of bread slices brushed with a little melted butter.
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Add the remaining bechamel sauce over the top and spread evenly.
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Finally, add the remainder of the grated cheese.
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Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, till the cheese melts and turns slightly golden. Gruyere cheese is a slow-melting cheese and doesn't get too brown.
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Meanwhile, you can prepare 4 sunny-side-up eggs if you are making Croque Madames.
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Once baked, separate the 4 individual portions. Croque Monsieur is now ready to be served.
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If serving Croque Madame, simply place a fried egg over the top et voilà. Bon Appétit!
Note
- You can add a little Dijon mustard over the bread slices before adding the bechamel sauce, before baking, if you like the flavor.
- Bechamel can be made ahead of time, to prepare this dish very easily when you need it. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days in advance. Reheat it in a saucepan over low heat (or in the microwave, at bursts), adding a little milk if needed to loosen it to a pouring consistency.
- Key Ingredients: Bread, Ham, Cheese, Butter, Milk, Flour, Spices, Salt, and Egg.
