HOW TO PREPARE CROQUE MADAME.

Croque Madame is a delicious French sandwich that’s essentially a Croque Monsieur topped with a fried or poached egg. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients:
4 slices of good-quality white bread
4 slices of ham (preferably a good-quality, thinly sliced ham)
4 slices of Swiss or Gruyère cheese
2 eggs (for frying)
1 cup of béchamel sauce (see recipe below)
Salt and pepper to taste
Butter, for frying and toasting
Optional: Dijon mustard
Béchamel Sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups milk (preferably whole milk)
Pinch of grated nutmeg
Salt and white pepper to taste
Instructions:
For the Béchamel Sauce:
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
Add the flour and whisk continuously to create a roux. Cook for a minute or two, but don’t let it brown.
Slowly whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to cook and whisk until the sauce thickens.
Add the nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Set aside.
For the Sandwich:
Preheat your oven’s broiler.
Optional: Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard on one side of each bread slice.
On two of the bread slices, layer a slice of cheese, followed by two slices of ham, and another slice of cheese. Top each with the remaining slices of bread, pressing down slightly.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt some butter. Add the sandwiches and cook until golden brown on both sides.
Transfer the sandwiches to a baking tray. Spoon some béchamel sauce over the top of each sandwich, spreading it to the edges.
Place the sandwiches under the broiler until the béchamel is bubbly and has started to turn golden brown.
In the same skillet, fry the two eggs until the whites are set but the yolks remain runny.
Place a fried egg on top of each sandwich. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Croque Madame is best served with a green salad or some pickles on the side for a balanced meal. Enjoy your delicious French treat!