Croque Madame

A Croque Madame is a classic French sandwich that consists of ham and cheese sandwiched between slices of bread, topped with creamy béchamel sauce, more cheese, and a fried or poached egg. Here's how to make a Croque Madame:

Ingredients:

For the Sandwich:

- 4 slices of sandwich bread (such as white or sourdough)

- 4 slices of cooked ham

- 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese or Swiss cheese

- Butter, softened

For the Béchamel Sauce:

- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

- 1 cup milk

- Pinch of nutmeg

- Salt and pepper, to taste

For Assembly:

- 4 eggs

- Salt and pepper, to taste

- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Make the béchamel sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until lightly golden. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Cook the sauce for 3-5 minutes, until thickened. Season with a pinch of nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. Assemble the sandwiches: Spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place the bread slices, buttered side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Top each slice of bread with a slice of ham and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Place the remaining slices of bread on top to form sandwiches.

4. Spoon the béchamel sauce evenly over the tops of the sandwiches, then sprinkle with more grated cheese.

5. Bake the sandwiches in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

6. While the sandwiches are baking, prepare the eggs: In a non-stick skillet, fry or poach the eggs to your desired level of doneness. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Remove the sandwiches from the oven and place them on serving plates. Top each sandwich with a fried or poached egg.

8. Garnish the Croque Madame sandwiches with chopped fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Croque Madame sandwiches are indulgent and satisfying, perfect for brunch or a hearty lunch. The combination of melted cheese, creamy béchamel sauce, and a perfectly cooked egg on top is simply irresistible.