Lifestyle

Making Croque Madame with ham is easier than you think

This classic French sandwich brings together toasted bread, ham, creamy béchamel, and a perfectly fried egg for an elegant meal.

Croque Madame with ham is a delightful twist on the traditional French café favourite. The name “Croque Madame” combines the French word “croque,” meaning crunch, with “madame,” meaning woman. This dish is thought to have earned this title because the fried egg on top resembles a woman’s hat.

This indulgent sandwich starts with layers of buttery toasted bread, thinly sliced ham, and creamy béchamel sauce, all crowned with a golden, gooey fried egg. Ideal for breakfast or bunch, Croque Madame is easy to make and delivers a little taste of Parisian charm in every bite. Recipe compliments of Eskort.

Prep time: 5min | Cook time: 10min | Total time: 15min | Serves: 1

Ingredients

  • 30g Butter
  • 30g Flour
  • 300ml Milk
  • 5g Dijon Mustard (plus extra to spread)
  • 5g Wholegrain Mustard
  • Nutmeg
  • Salt and White Pepper
  • 4 Slices Bread
  • 6 Slices Eskort Ham
  • 100g Grated Cheese
  • 2 Eggs

Method

  1. Preheat Oven to 160°C
  2. 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.
  3. Toast the bread and spread a layer of Dijon mustard onto both slices.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Fry an egg and add to the top of the sandwich to finish.
  7. Chop some fresh chives and sprinkle over for garnishing.

Serve

Serve with fillings of your choice.

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I'm an experienced writer, sub-editor, and media & public relations specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry – across digital, print, TV, and radio. I earned a diploma in Journalism and Print Media from leading institution, Damelin College, with distinctions (Journalism And Print Media, Media Studies, Technical English And Communications, South African Studies, African & International Studies, Technology in Journalism, Journalism II & Practical Journalism). I also hold a qualification in Investigative Journalism from Print Media SA, First Aid Training from St John’s Ambulance, as well as certificates in Learning to Write Marketing Copy, Planning a Career in User Experience, and Writing a Compelling Blog Post.

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