CROQUE MADAME

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Croque Madame image

This is a classic. Belonging to a time of early Café society, bistro-lined boulevards and mentions in Proustian works next to madeleines, the croque monsieur (the madame has an egg on it) is like the grilled cheese sandwich of France. Its name literally means, "Mr. Crunch--or in this case, "Mrs. Crunch," due to the blistered bechamel covering crusty, toasted bread. Typically served with Parisian ham, I adjusted mine a bit with prosciutto to make the most of the crunch factor. Once out of the oven and topped with an egg, it almost takes on the attitude of a savory French toast. This version is already decadent and delicious but if you want to really send this over the top, serve it with homemade French fries and extra bechamel for dipping. And then take a nap.

Provided by Claire Thomas : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 1/2 cups milk, plus more as needed
Several sprigs parsley
10 peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon chile flakes
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
6 slices sourdough bread, toasted
18 slices prosciutto
6 large eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • Combine the 3 1/2 cups milk, parsley, peppercorns, chile flakes, nutmeg, bay leaf and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in another medium saucepan over medium heat, then add the flour, whisking to combine. Cook, whisking, until the mixture is doughy and smells a bit nutty, about 1 minute. Add the hot milk through a fine-mesh sieve about a half cup at a time, whisking to incorporate with the flour and butter mixture. The resulting bechamel should be smooth and velvety. If it's chunky or too thick, whisk in more milk to thin it out. Remove the bechamel from the heat and stir in half of the cheese.
  • Spread the Dijon on the sourdough toasts and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Top each toast with 3 slices of the prosciutto and the remaining cheese. Spoon about 1/4 cup bechamel onto each toast and bake for 5 minutes. With the toasts still in the oven, switch the oven to broil and bake until the tops are bubbling and lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, melt 1/2 tablespoon of the remaining butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat and add 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil. Crack 1 egg into a cup then carefully add to the hot skillet (the cup helps control the egg). Season the egg with salt and pepper then spoon the butter and oil in the skillet over the egg until cooked to your liking. Top 1 toast with the fried egg. Repeat with the remaining eggs and serve immediately.

KasiHustler
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Not bad! I thought the flavors were a bit too rich for my taste. Next time I'll try using a lighter cheese.


Johnson Emmanuel
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I made this for dinner last night and it was a hit! My husband and kids loved it. I'll definitely be making it again.


Hridoy Mahammud
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This recipe is a keeper! I've made it several times and it always turns out perfectly. I love the combination of flavors and textures.


Elikplim Sakre
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Meh. I wasn't a huge fan of this recipe. The béchamel sauce was too thick and the bread was soggy.


Nathanael Teshome
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This was a great way to use up leftover ham and cheese. I also added a fried egg on top, which made it even more decadent.


SMedia PAK
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This is the best croque madame recipe I've ever tried! The béchamel sauce is so smooth and creamy and the cheese is perfectly melted. I highly recommend this recipe!


Chimamanda Divine
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Not bad! I thought the flavors were a bit too rich for my taste. Next time I'll try using a lighter cheese.


Oh I Alom
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I made this for dinner last night and it was a hit! My husband and kids loved it. I'll definitely be making it again.


Jeremiah Quarshie
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This recipe is a keeper! I've made it several times and it always turns out perfectly. I love the combination of flavors and textures.


Shay Hampton
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Meh. I wasn't a huge fan of this recipe. The béchamel sauce was too thick and the bread was soggy.


Vaughn Gragg
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This was a great way to use up leftover ham and cheese. I also added a fried egg on top, which made it even more decadent.


Mb Ahad Hosen
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I'm a big fan of croque madames and this recipe is one of the best I've tried. The béchamel sauce is so rich and creamy and the cheese is perfectly melted.


Muhammad Javed Siddqui
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Not bad! I thought the flavors were a bit bland. Next time I'll try adding some more spices or herbs.


M Thraq
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This was my first time making a croque madame and it came out great! The instructions were easy to follow and the results were delicious.


Priscilla chiwendu Ogbonda
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I've tried this recipe a few times and it never fails to impress. It's the perfect combination of flavors and textures.


Kerri leeann Ogilby
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Simple but delicious! I used sourdough bread and Gruyère cheese and it was so good. I'll definitely be making this again.


Rylie Nichols
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I made this last weekend for brunch and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it and the leftovers went quickly. I'll definitely be making it again.


Makik Khiz
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This is a wonderful recipe! I've made it several times and it always turns out perfectly. The flavors are amazing and the cheese is melted and gooey just the way I like it.


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