Lifestyle
Brunch made easy with croque madame with ham
The combination of creamy béchamel sauce, savoury ham, and gooey cheese, crowned with a perfectly cooked egg, makes for a delicious brunch.
Croque madame, a beloved classic in the world of French cuisine, is a decadent and delightful sandwich that’s perfect for brunch or any indulgent meal. It combines layers of thinly sliced ham, creamy béchamel sauce, and gooey cheese, all sandwiched between slices of golden, toasted bread. What sets the croque madame apart from its cousin, the croque monsieur, is the crowning glory of a perfectly fried or poached egg on top. Recipe compliments of Eskort.
Ingredients
- 30g Butter
- 30g Flour
- 300ml Milk
- 5g Dijon Mustard (plus extra to spread)brunchlun
- 5g Wholegrain Mustard
- Nutmeg
- Salt and White Pepper
- 4 Slices Bread
- 6 Slices Eskort Ham
- 100g Grated Cheese
- 2 Eggs
Method
- Preheat Oven to 160°C
- Start by making the béchamel sauce. Melt the butter in a pan, when it bubbles, add in the flour and mix well to form a paste. Turn the heat down to low. Add a little milk and whisk until the lumps dissipate, continue to add the milk little by little to prevent any lumps forming. Once all the milk has been added, turn up the heat and cook until thickened. Stir in the Dijon and wholegrain mustard – season with nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Cover with cling film and set aside.
- Toast the bread and spread a layer of Dijon mustard onto both slices.
- To build, start with a layer of béchamel. Top with some grated cheese, 6 slices of Eskort ham, and more grated cheese. Pour over some more béchamel and close the sandwich.
- Place the sandwich in a cast iron skillet. Pour over some more béchamel and top with some more grated cheese. Pop it into the oven for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is bubbling, finish by grilling the sandwich to get a golden top.
- Fry an egg and add to the top of the sandwich to finish.
- Chop some fresh chives and sprinkle over for garnishing.
- Serve with fillings of your choice.
