Croque Madame Sandwich Recipe With Step Photos

A Croque Madame is a rich, filling, decadent sandwich made with ham, gruyère cheese, and a béchamel sauce topped with a fried egg. It makes a great addition to any breakfast or brunch menu! Serve it alongside fresh fruit, orange juice, and pastries for an unforgettable and delectable breakfast.

Ingredients in a Croque Madame

White Sandwich Bread – this classic French sandwich uses pain de mie which is a white, soft, rectangular sandwich bread. However, I used regular Italian sandwich bread. You can also use sourdough or wheat bread slices. Ham – use high quality ham from the deli counter for the best sandwich. Bechamel Sauce – bechamel is one of the five French mother sauces made of unsalted butter, all purpose flour, milk, and seasonings. The sauce in this recipe is technically a Mornay sauce, which is a variation of a bechamel that uses cheese as well. Gruyere Cheese – The strong flavor of Gruyere makes the perfect compliment to the subtle bechamel sauce Eggs – the star of the show! Each sandwich features a fried egg on top. Chives for garnish – you can also use fresh thyme

How to Make a Perfect Sunny Side Up Egg

Top your Croque Madame with the perfect sunny side up egg! Break the egg (fresh eggs are best) into a greased pan over low heat. You can use butter, bacon fat, olive oil, or just plain cooking spray. Do not cover you pan with a lid in attempt to cook faster. The yolk will start cooking from the top and lose its beautiful color. Add a teaspoon of water after 30 seconds or so to help the egg cook a little faster. Cook until the whites of the egg become opaque and the egg can slide easily around the pan. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Using the Right Pan

A nonstick skillet or griddle is the easiest to use. Nonstick skillets are by far the most fool proof way to go. If you use a cast iron skillet, be sure to use a well seasoned one. The more seasoned the pan, the more non-stick qualities it will have. If you do use a cast iron skillet but don’t want to use it for the eggs, you can toast the Croque Madame sandwiches in it, then transfer them straight to the oven to broil. Read Next: 33+ Easy Breakfast Ideas: Tasty Recipes By Category (30 mins or less)