Exquisite August 16

RECIPE
Croque Madame
A classic ham sandwich from France
with bechamel sauce and topped with
fried egg.
Serves 2
5 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1 cup milk
Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
4 slices white bread
2 teasp Dijon mustard
4 slices good ham
2 eggs
Preheat broiler with the rack in the top position.
Make the bechamel sauce: In saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter and whisk in flour and
cook for about 2 minutes over high heat. Add milk and salt and whisk constantly
until mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the nutmeg and half the
cheese.
Place the slices of bread on a baking sheet. Spread the Dijon mustard on the 2 slices
of bread and top with 2 slices of ham each. Divide half of the bechamel between the
remaining 2 bread slices and top with remaining cheese. Close the sandwiches.
Melt 2 tbsp butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook both
sides until bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.
Return sandwiches to the baking sheet, top with remaining bechamel, and place
under the broiler until bubbly, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, melt remaining butter
in the same pan over high heat. Fry eggs, sunny side up, for about 2 minutes. Top
sandwiches with fried egg, sprinkle with salt, and serve immediately.
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Wine with Egg.indd 73
26/7/2016 6:54:34 PM