Why Madame? Because it has an egg, of course.
Ingredients
Makes 4 sandwiches
To assemble the sandwiches:
Step 1
Set half of the slices of bread buttered side down, and cover them with the cheese slices, folding them back in toward the middle if they extend past the edges of the bread. Place 3 or 4 slices of the ham in an even layer over the cheese, and place the top slice of bread over the ham, buttered side up.
Step 2
Grill the sandwiches in a two-sided grill or on a heavy-bottomed pan, using clarified butter and turning once. Place on serving plates.
To fry the eggs:
Step 3
Crack two eggs into two separate bowls to check that the yolks aren’t broken. In 2 6-inch non-stick skillets, melt half of the butter over medium-high heat, until it starts to bubble. Pour 1 egg into each pan, being careful not to break the yolks. Add a teaspoon of water to each pan, sprinkle the eggs with fleur de sel, and cover the pans with lids. Cook the eggs for about 3 minutes for a soft-cooked egg and 5-6 minutes if you like your eggs firm. Wipe out the skillets, and fry the other 2 eggs in the remaining butter in the same manner. Center a fried egg over each of the grilled sandwiches and sprinkle with pepper.
Leave a Review
Reviews (5)
Back to TopI agree that the chicken is so odd, although it's described as an American variation I have never seen it served that way and I am a native Californian. I must admit though that I always serve my croque madame with a velvety mustard bechamel so that it the "norm" for me.
beccif
Santa Rosa, CA
1/24/2010
Easy to make, easier to eat. Yeah, the distiction is the egg. I don't know what the person below is talking about; I'm sure that their French friends love having he or she around for laughs.
Anonymous
Seattle
10/24/2004
To "A Cook on 03/15/04" -- En fait, ce n'est pas vrai. L'oeuf fait la différence. But then again, you were trolling, no?
Anonymous
Lausanne, CH
8/3/2004
制定法律的人到底在哪儿啊n "Croque Monsieur" and "Croque Madame" getting his/her information? I have lived in Paris for the last eleven years and in every café I've been in a Croque Monsieur is made with Jambon de Paris and a Madame is the same but with an egg on top. Various other hams are sometimes used, but then it is noted and the dish is called a "Croque Campagnard" or named after it's region (for example, with a tomato, it's a Croque provençale). I have NEVER seen a croque made with chicken.
Anonymous
4/6/2004
The difference between Monsieur and Madame is the former uses Black Forest ham and the latter uses chicken. You will embarrass yourself if you try to pass this one off to your French friends.
Anonymous
3/15/2004
