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Croque Madame

Brioche bread, layered with bechamel sauce and cooked ham. Topped with cheese and a fried egg.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: French
Servings: 1

Ingredients

For the bechamel

  • 1 tsp butter
  • 1 tsp flour
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • salt
  • 1 pinch nutmeg

For the sandwich

  • 3 slices brioche bread
  • 4 slices cooked ham
  • ½ cup gruyere cheese grated
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  • Turn on the broiler in your oven.
  • In a small pot melt the butter over medium heat and add the flour. Whisk constantly until the roux turns a light brown.
  • Whisk in the milk and season with salt and nutmeg to taste. A pinch of both should be enough. You're looking for a thick creamy sauce. If it's too thick add some more milk, if it's too runny, let it reduce a couple of moments.
  • Set the sauce aside.
  • Lightly toast the slices of brioche (be careful with it, because brioche tends to burn pretty quickly).
  • Spread two teaspoons bechamel sauce on a slice of brioche, add two slices of ham and repeat with a second slice.
  • Finish the sandwich with the last slice and sprinkle thick with the grated cheese.
  • Put the sandwich under the broiler for 5-6 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
  • Meanwhile fry the egg sunny side up.
  • Take out the sandwich and top with the fried egg. Serve immediately.

Notes

You can of course always make this sandwich with any other bread you like.