Croque-Madame
Photo: Jonathan Pielmayer / Unsplash
The Paris café classic: a toasted ham and Gruyère sandwich covered in creamy béchamel, baked until bubbling and crowned with a fried egg.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Make the béchamel
Melt 15 g of butter in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and keep whisking for 2–3 minutes, until the sauce is thick and smooth. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Build the sandwiches
Heat the oven to 220°C. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Put 2 slices on a baking tray, buttered side down. Spread them with the mustard and a thin layer of béchamel, then add the ham and half of the cheese. Top with the other 2 slices, buttered side up.
Cover and bake
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Fry the eggs
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Serve
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Make the béchamel
Melt 15 g of butter in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and keep whisking for 2–3 minutes, until the sauce is thick and smooth. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Build the sandwiches
Heat the oven to 220°C. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Put 2 slices on a baking tray, buttered side down. Spread them with the mustard and a thin layer of béchamel, then add the ham and half of the cheese. Top with the other 2 slices, buttered side up.
Cover and bake
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Fry the eggs
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
The croque-monsieur first appeared on Paris café menus in the early 1900s as a quick, hot snack: ham and cheese toasted between buttered bread. Croquer means 'to crunch'.
The croque-madame came later, when cafés began adding a fried egg on top. The béchamel blanket turned a simple toastie into a knife-and-fork bistro lunch.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Crunchy bread, melting cheese, creamy sauce and a runny yolk: comfort food that feels a little luxurious.
💡 Fun Fact
People say the egg on top looks like a lady's hat, which is how the 'madame' got her name.
Paris
48.86°N, 2.35°E
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