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Quick French Croque Madame sandwich topped with a fried egg, perfect for brunch.

Croque Madame

A cozy French sandwich with crispy bread, savory ham, melty cheese, and topped with a fried egg, perfect for a quick meal.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1 sandwich
Course: Brunch, Lunch
Cuisine: French
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 slices sturdy sandwich bread (sourdough or similar) Bread should be suitable for toasting.
  • 2 slices deli ham Or use leftover baked ham.
  • 1 slice cheese (Gruyere, Swiss, or sharp white cheddar) Grated cheese melts more easily.
  • 1 tablespoon butter For crisping the bread.
  • 1 large egg Fried sunny side up or over easy.
  • to taste salt and pepper Add a pinch of nutmeg if desired.
Quick Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon butter To make a quick béchamel or as a light smear.
  • 1 tablespoon flour For thickening the sauce.
  • 1/2 cup milk To create a quick sauce.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Toast the bread slices in a pan for 1-2 minutes until lightly crisp.
  2. Spread a thin layer of butter on the outside of each slice of bread.
  3. On the inside, layer the ham, cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cooking
  1. Heat the pan over medium heat and place the sandwich in the pan, cooking until golden and the cheese starts to melt.
  2. While the sandwich cooks, fry the egg sunny side up or over easy in another pan.
  3. Once the sandwich is golden, remove it from the pan and plate it.
  4. Top the sandwich with the fried egg.

Notes

For best results, keep the bread crisp and don’t overload with sauce. Ideal for a quick lunch or brunch alternative. You can customize with different cheese or vegetables.