Have you ever tried French sandwiches? If you haven’t yet, perhaps it’s time to change that. French sandwiches are more than just ordinary sandwiches – they are a true gastronomic experience. They are most commonly served as breakfast, but their combination of ingredients makes them ideal for any meal throughout the day. The literal translation for “croque monsieur” would be crispy mister and for “croque madame” crispy madam. The only difference between these two sandwiches is that croque madame is served with a fried egg, which is said to resemble a lady’s hat, hence the name.
Below, you’ll find the necessary ingredients and preparation, which takes about half an hour.
Ingredients:
- 4 slices of bread (toast or any firm bread)
- 100g of ham
- 150g of cheese
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 cup of milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or chives (for serving)
- 1 egg for croque madame
Ingredients for béchamel sauce:
- 40g of butter
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- About 250ml of milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- A pinch of grated nutmeg (optional)
Preparation instructions:
Start with the béchamel sauce by melting the butter over low heat, adding the flour, and stirring for about 2 minutes until small bubbles form. Gradually add the milk while stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Then, begin preparing the sandwiches. Spread béchamel sauce on each slice of bread, add ham and cheese. Then another slice of bread, béchamel, and grated cheese on top.
Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake the sandwiches for about 10-15 minutes, until the cheese melts and the bread is lightly browned. With these steps, you’ll have croque monsieur sandwiches, and to make croque madame, fry an egg sunny-side-up and place it on top of the sandwich. Serve while warm.
Enjoy the flavors of French cuisine! 😊
