Perfect Croque Monsieur and Madame
The perfect Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame is a simple creation. However, if you try to order one in an American restaurant, you’ll likely receive quizzical look. Not so if you ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. Croque Monsieur, literally translated as “crunch sir” is somewhat of a French grilled cheese sandwich. However, it is so much more. Add a fried egg on top and you have a Croque Madame!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: Brunch, Main Course, Mother's Day
Cuisine: French
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 510kcal
Béchamel Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk heated
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
Croques
- 4 thin slices of white bread
- 8 ounces thinly sliced ham
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Gruyère cheese
- Fried eggs for Croque Madame
Béchamel Sauce: Melt butter in small saucepan. Whisk in flour. Allow to cook for about a minute, ensuring that the flour does not brown.
Slowly whisk in hot milk. Whisk constantly until thickened. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Croques: Preheat oven to 375° F.
Lightly toast bread.
Place half of ham on one slice of toasted bread.
Spread 1-½ to 2 Tablespoons of Béchamel Sauce on ham. Top with half of Gruyère cheese.
Repeat with remaining slices of toasted bread.
Bake at 375° F for 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and ingredients are heated through.
Increase oven temperature to broil. Broil for several minutes until top is golden brown.
For Croque Madame, top with fried egg.
Yield: 4 servings.
Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1071mg | Potassium: 313mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Calcium: 565mg | Iron: 1.7mg