Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame are fabulous, creamy and decadent breakfast sandwiches to linger your fingers. Bacon or ham, cheese on toast bread and all these smothered in a homemade delicious bechamel sauce and baked until golden brown and gooey. Topped with a fried egg and served next to a freshly squeezed orange juice. Irresistible!
I adore both Croque Monsieur & Madame sandwiches. They are so hearty, satisfying that your breakfast mood will instantly rise. Such a simple recipe, but with so many positive reviews that I simply can’t get rid of making them.
Who doesn’t love toasted bread topped with anything? I think this is a recipe all people simply adore and enjoy next to a cup of coffee or next to a fresh orange juice. This is a versatile recipe as you can easily skip the bechamel sauce in case you find it too complicated for mornings, and easily substitute ham with bacon. It is up to you to use whatever cheese you like, as well as the bread. Definitely, the original and authentic recipe requires some tips and steps – but you can make your own creation at home.
The toasted bread topped with melting cheese, ham, and yolky eggs – this is the real dream of a happy and satisfying morning. I adore eggs in the morning. In order to make different egg variations and recipes, I try to include eggs in many other dishes for breakfast.
So simple, but so de-li-ci-ous that even the most pretentious people will adore serving them.
I am writing about both recipes, but in case you don’t like yolk eggs topped on sandwiches, easily create the Croque Monsieur at your discretion.
This French classic breakfast treat I discovered some years ago in my local restaurant where I used to enjoy one of my best breakfasts. They serve one of the best sandwiches I have ever tried, due to the bechamel consistency and one of the crunchiest and freshest baguette bread.
However, I have tried them at home and I have realized that they aren’t less tasty and savoury. My husband and my daughter simply enjoyed them and said that they are even better than in a restaurant. Maybe, this is the point I like to cook at home and to spoil and delight my family.
This simple recipe dates back to 1910 in a Parisian cafe that was quite famous and popular. The authentic recipe is made of ham, Emmental or Gruyere cheese and fresh toast bread. Such sandwiches go perfect when I give some brunches as they are so perfect next to a simple green salad or some fresh veggies.
French cuisine is considered one of the most acclaimed and famous in the world with delicate and innovative dishes. And, like many other positive things, the French do it better in many ways!
Enjoy my recipe and leave comments!
What’s the difference between Croque monsieur and Croque madame?
The only difference between Croque monsieur and Croque madame is the poached or fried egg on the top of the sandwich. Both sandwiches contain ham, cheese, and bechamel sauce – but it gets optional if you want or not a yolk egg topped over the sandwich. Personally, I adore both versions but it depends on your tastes and likes. My husband, for example, doesn’t like yolk eggs so Croque monsieur is more suitable for him. In case you haven’t tried any of them, try both to assure which one is better for you.
How to make croque monsieur and croque madame?
Croque monsieur and Croque madame are simple and perfect French breakfast recipes to enjoy next to a cup of coffee or fresh orange juice. Such a delight, that I simply adore breakfasts like this. Croque monsieur or Croque madame is one of my all-time favourites indulgence in the mornings this is why I simply adore making them so often in my house.
For today I have made a Croque madame recipe if you are interested just follow my steps.
The ingredients:
- 8 slices of bread for 4 persons. Any kind of white or whole-grain bread works great for this recipe, however, this time I have used toasted bread.
- The best melting cheese is better for this recipe. I have used 2 cups of grated Gruyere cheese.
- 4-6 slices of the best quality ham. The proportion goes 1or 2 slices of ham for each toasted sandwich. In case you want to add more, feel free to add.
- Eggs. Here you can fry as much as you plan to make Croque sandwiches.
- 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard.
- 4 tbsp of melting butter.
- Additional: green leaves as a fresh salad served next to the best ever Croque madame sandwiches.
- For the best and simple bechamel recipe check it on my blog.
It seems a lot of steps and too complicated, but I promise you it isn’t that complicated.
First thing you should do is to prepare the bechamel sauce. The simple and easy recipe you can find on my blog page accessing the link here.
Put the toasted bread on the baking tray and grease with some melting butter, (the melting butter that you will use for the bechamel sauce). Grease well all the toasts to bake them to perfection. I seek for crispy golden edges with a soft texture inside the toast. Ready to go down into the oven for some 7-10 minutes or until golden brown. Bake them at 180C or 350F in a preheated oven.
The kitchen is already filled up with a nice baking aroma that is simply irresistible.
The next step, take off the oven the toasts and grease a touch of Dijon mustard over the side of the toasts that will be inside of the sandwich. Top the ham and the grated cheese over the toasts and bake some 2-4 minutes more or until the cheese is melting and looks so beautiful and mouthwatering.
For note: for this bechamel recipe I have added ½ tsp of Dijon mustard and some of the remaining Gruyere cheese so that the sauce has a thicker consistency and a more authentic French taste.
For the finish – take off the oven the sandwiches and pour the bechamel sauce over them and bake another 1-2 minutes until golden brown and nice.
Meanwhile, fry an egg yolk on a medium to high heat. Try to have a soft and melting yolky egg that will be topped over the Croque madame sandwich.
So creamy, so crispy, and so delicious that I have no more words to add. A little bit of egg and a little bit of sandwich – what can be more delightful in the morning!
Croque Monsieur & Madame Sandwiches for Breakfast
Equipment
- baking pan
- skillet
Ingredients
- 8 slices French toast
- 2 cups Gruyere cheese
- 6 slices ham
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- Put the toast slices on a baking tray and grease with some melting butter, each slice. Bake the sandwiches for about 7-10 minutes or until golden brown. Bake them at 180C or 350F in a preheated oven.
- Take off the oven, and grease a thin layer of Dijon mustard across one side of the toast. Top the ham and the grated cheese over the toasts and bake some 2-4 minutes more or until the cheese is melting.
- Take off the oven the sandwiches and pour the bechamel sauce over them and bake another 1-2 minutes until golden brown and nice. Meanwhile, fry an egg yolk on a medium to high heat in some olive oil. Try to have a soft and melting yolky egg to top over the Croque madame sandwich.
- Serve immediately.
