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Croque Madame (Crispy Lady) Sandwiches

The “croque madame” is a French grilled cheese sandwich with ham inside and a fried egg on top. Sounds odd, but it’s SO good. It was my very favorite meal on our pilgrimage to Lourdes a few years back. THEN I realized that the name of the sandwich basically translates to "crispy lady" and I knew it was meant to be a part of our feast day celebration of Saint Joan of Arc. Gruyere is the cheese that’s traditionally used, but swiss works in a pinch.
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Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (12 Tablespoons) divided
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon salt plus more for seasoning
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 8 slices thick sourdough bread
  • 8 to 12 slices good quality ham about ¾ pound
  • 12 ounces Gruyere cheese grated, divided
  • Nonstick spray
  • 4 eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Make the bechamel sauce: In a small saucepan, melt 2 Tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until you smell the flour and butter cooking, 2-3 minutes. Do not allow it to brown. Add the milk and bay leaf and cook, stirring from time to time, until the mixture thickens like a soup, 10-12 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and stir in the parmesan. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
  • Top 4 slices of bread with 2 or 3 slices of ham each. Mix together half of the Gruyere cheese and the bechamel sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread a little of the sauce on top of the ham and top each with another slice of bread.
  • Heat a large cast iron skillet and, when hot, add half of the remaining butter. Add 2 of the sandwiches and brown on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip them and brown the other side for 2 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining butter and sandwiches. Spread the remaining bechamel on top of the sandwiches and top with the other half of the Gruyere cheese.
  • Wipe any crumbs from the cast iron skillet and spray with nonstick spray. Crack 4 eggs into the skillet, leaving a little room between each. (Alternatively, fry 2 at a time). While the eggs are frying, place the sandwiches under the broiler and broil until the top becomes golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Season the eggs with salt and top each sandwich with a fried egg. Serve immediately.

Notes

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/croque-madame-sandwich-recipe-1922870