In the tapestry of culinary delights, few dishes evoke a sense of comfort and indulgence quite like the classic Croque Madame. This elegant invention, believed to have originated in the bustling cafes of early 20th-century Paris, combines the timeless appeal of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with the luxurious touch of a perfectly poached or fried egg, creating a symphony of flavors that is both satisfying and memorable. While traditional Croque Madames often demand a leisurely preparation, modern variations have emerged that cater to our fast-paced lifestyles, allowing us to savor this culinary masterpiece without sacrificing precious time. Join us as we explore a collection of quick Croque Madame recipes tailored for those who crave both convenience and culinary excellence.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
CROQUE MADAME
(A Monsieur, made better!)
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Time 20m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place a small sauce pot over medium low heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter in it. Whisk in a rounded tablespoon of flour and cook 1 minute or so. Whisk in milk and bring to a bubble then drop heat to low. Season the sauce with salt, pepper, nutmeg and Dijon. When sauce coats back of a spoon, turn off heat.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in each of 2 medium nonstick skillets, both over medium low heat. When butter melts add 2 large eggs to the first skillet, keeping the whites separate from each other. To the second skillet add 2 slices bread and toast lightly on first side then turn the bread. Top turned bread liberally with sauce and 2 slices of the ham and the Swiss cheese on each slice of bread. Use a spatula to transfer the eggs to the tops of the open faced sandwiches. Cover the pan with foil and turn off heat. Let pan stand 5 minutes to melt cheese and set sauce and eggs.
- Top sandwiches with chopped herb or herbs of choice and serve. Spoon any leftover sauce over top of the eggs before garnishing.
CROQUE MADAME
This classic ham sandwich from France is drizzled with bechamel sauce and topped with fried eggs.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
Yield Makes 2 sandwiches
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the broiler with the rack in the top position. In small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over high heat. Whisk in flour and cook until lightly golden. Add milk and salt and whisk constantly until mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir into the sauce the nutmeg and half the cheese.
- Lay the slices of bread on a baking sheet. Divide the Dijon between 2 slices and top with ham. Divide half of the bechamel between the remaining 2 bread slices and top with remaining cheese. Close the sandwiches.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook both sides until bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3-4 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 skillet over high heat. Fry eggs, sunny side up, for about 2 minutes. Top sandwiches with fried egg, season with black pepper, and serve immediately.
CROQUE MADAME
This recipe is a favorite in my family! I take a French class and I bring these little sandwiches to the French meeting. This typical French delectable is always on the menu in little French cafes.
Provided by Jennifer James
Categories 100+ Breakfast and Brunch Recipes Eggs Breakfast Sandwich Recipes
Time 15m
Yield 1
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Mix in the cheese once it is melted. Dip each slice of bread into the melted cheese, coating both sides.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place one slice of bread into the skillet and top with 2 slices of ham. Place the second piece of bread on top. Fry until golden on each side, then remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Fry the egg in the hot skillet to your liking: easy, medium, or well done. Place the fried egg on top of the sandwich and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 888.8 calories, Carbohydrate 32.5 g, Cholesterol 361.4 mg, Fat 64.2 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 45.3 g, SaturatedFat 38.4 g, Sodium 1417 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
CROQUE MADAME
Rustle up the sandwich of dreams, complete with melty cheese, ham and a fried egg. Our easy croque madame recipe makes a speedy supper or comforting brunch
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course, Snack
Time 15m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat a frying pan on a medium heat and put oven on low. Put the ham and cheese between the bread slices and press to seal, then spread half the butter on the outside of the sandwich on both sides.
- Fry in the pan, pressing down with a fish slice, for 1-2 mins until golden then flip and cook the other side. Keep warm in the oven. Melt remaining butter in the pan and fry egg for 1-2 mins until cooked. Top the croque with the egg and serve with salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 783 calories, Fat 50 grams fat, SaturatedFat 28 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 51 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 35 grams protein, Sodium 3.54 milligram of sodium
CROQUE MADAME ON BRIOCHE
A spin on the traditional French croque monsieur with deli ham, rich smoky cheese, béchamel, and eggs on brioche bread. Typically in France the eggs are fried but I prefer poached eggs topped with chives and smoked paprika. Optionally serve it with sliced plum tomatoes to make it a croque Provençal. This is my sweet angel's favorite dish that I prepare for her.
Provided by Babel Phaedrus
Time 30m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Season with Dijon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook until sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove sauce from the heat.
- Fill a large saucepan with 2 to 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, pour in vinegar, and keep the water at a gentle simmer. Crack an egg into a small bowl then gently slip egg into the simmering water, holding the bowl just above the surface of water. Repeat with the remaining egg. Cook eggs until the whites are firm and the yolks have thickened but are not hard, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon, dab on a kitchen towel to remove excess water, and place onto a warm plate.
- Melt remaining butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bread and toast in melted butter on both sides. Top bread slices liberally with warm sauce, then top with ham and Gruyere cheese. Place poached eggs on top.
- Cover the pan with foil or a lid and turn off heat. Let stand until cheese has melted and sauce and eggs have set, about 5 minutes.
- Serve immediately, spooning any leftover sauce on top of eggs. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with chives and paprika.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 825.7 calories, Carbohydrate 46.6 g, Cholesterol 377.9 mg, Fat 56.9 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 32.3 g, SaturatedFat 28 g, Sodium 1181 mg, Sugar 12.9 g
CROQUE-MADAME
This is a variation of Amanda Hesser's croque-monsieur, a ham and Gruyere sandwich topped with béchamel. Here, we invite you to pop a fried egg on top. Voila! A croque-madame (reportedly named such because the egg resembles a lady's wide-brimmed hat).
Provided by The New York Times
Categories dinner, lunch, quick, sandwiches, main course
Time 20m
Yield 2 sandwiches
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat a two-sided electric griddle on medium-high to high for about 20 minutes, or preheat the oven to 300 degrees and preheat a cast-iron skillet on top of the stove for about 5 minutes. Prepare a bechamel sauce: in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. When bubbles have subsided, add flour and whisk vigorously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil, and cook until thick. Remove from heat, and season to taste with salt and nutmeg.
- Spread two slices of bread generously with sauce. Lay two slices of ham on top of each, and top each with a slice of cheese; ham and cheese should slightly overlap edges of bread. Top each with a slice of bread.
- In a small saucepan, melt remaining the 4 tablespoons butter. Brush the sandwiches on both sides with butter, making sure that the edges are well covered. If you're using a griddle, place cheese side down, close the griddle and cook until the bread is toasted dark and cheese is leaking out and bubbling. If you're using a skillet, place sandwiches cheese side down and cook on stove top until well browned, then turn and brown again. Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling. Meanwhile, fry the eggs in a skillet with little butter. Slide one fried egg onto each sandwich. Serve hot.
CROQUE-MADAME
My son and I love having a croque-madame (a fried egg atop our grilled ham and cheese) for lunch. If eggs aren't your favorite, you can make the sandwich without it (which makes it a croque-monsieur). -Carolyn Turner, Reno, Nevada
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Breakfast Brunch Lunch
Time 30m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. Place half of the cheese on 8 bread slices; top with ham and remaining bread. Spread outsides of sandwiches with softened butter., On a griddle, toast sandwiches over medium heat 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Spread tops with mayonnaise; top with remaining cheese. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet; bake 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted., Meanwhile, for eggs, heat 1 tablespoon butter on griddle over medium-high heat. Break 4 eggs, 1 at a time, onto griddle. Reduce heat to low. Cook to desired doneness, turning after whites are set if desired. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place eggs over sandwiches. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 758 calories, Fat 47g fat (24g saturated fat), Cholesterol 344mg cholesterol, Sodium 1691mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 46g protein.
JACQUES'S CROQUE MADAME
Provided by Julia Child
Categories Sandwich Cheese Chicken Poultry Appetizer Bake Kid-Friendly Dinner Lunch Sugar Conscious Kidney Friendly Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Small Plates
Yield Yield: 1 sandwich
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Spread a thin layer of soft butter on one side only of both bread slices, then cover the buttered sides neatly with a layer of cheese. Arrange a layer of chicken on one bread slice and sprinkle on the chives and a few dashes of Tabasco, if you like. Flip the other piece of bread over on top (cheese inside, of course), press together, and spread more butter on the outsides of the sandwich, coating the slices evenly. Lay the assembled sandwich in the baking dish and prepare others the same way.
- Bake the sandwiches for 10 minutes or so, until the bottom sides are crisp and golden. Flip them over and bake for about 5 minutes more, until the second sides are also well toasted.
- Serve hot. For appetizer portions, trim off the crusts and cut each sandwich diagonally into 4 small triangles.
Tips:
- Use a variety of breads for your croque madames. Sourdough, brioche and rye are all great options.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different cheeses. Gruyere, cheddar and fontina are all classic choices, but you could also try Gouda, Swiss or mozzarella.
- Cook your eggs however you like them. Sunny-side up, over easy or poached are all great options.
- Add a touch of béchamel sauce for extra richness and flavor.
- Serve your croque madames with a simple green salad or roasted vegetables.
Conclusion:
Croque madames are a delicious and versatile breakfast, lunch or brunch option. They're easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So next time you're looking for a quick and satisfying meal, give croque madames a try.
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