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Croque Madame

Croque Madame

Croque monsieur is (essentially, but perhaps not officially) french for “grilled ham and cheese sandwich.” It’s a very popular sandwich that has been around for just about a century, having first appeared on a restaurant menu around 1910. Gooey cheese, salty ham and buttered, toasted bread makes a great combination. It’s so popular that there are now lots of different variations on “le croque,” changing up the type of bread used, the amount or type of meat and adding extra ingredients to the basic recipe. The basic recipe consists of ham and cheese toasted in between two slices of bread, and the whole thing is usually topped with another layer of cheese that is melted/broiled on. The Croque Madame is a very simple variation on the original and adds either a fried or poached egg to the top of the sandwich, usually replacing some of that final layer of cheese.

These sandwiches are meant to be a lighter meal or snack, not as heavy as a full dinner, and are quite popular as a fast food-type option. While you could pile one of these up with sliced ham to make the sandwich a bit heartier, I prefer to keep it a little on the lighter side and use just a slice or two of ham in the middle. This seems – as far as I can tell – to be a little more in keeping with the “traditional” French way of making the sandwich, since the sandwich is usually sold quite inexpensively and with only a slice or two of ham inside.

Cheese, on the other hand, is never in short supply in french cooking and even though I didn’t use too much on this sandwich, you can feel free to pile it on if you want more. It’s pretty traditional to use a cheese like gruyère, but any easily melted cheese is a good choice for this sandwich. I like havarti and will have it on its own or combine it with gruyère for my sandwiches.

Croque Madame
1 large egg
2 slices of sandwich bread
2-oz (2 slices) gruyère cheese
approx 4-oz deli sliced ham
butter
salt and pepper, to taste

In a medium skillet, lightly greased, fry egg to desired doneness. Season with salt and pepper.
While egg is cooking, lightly butter the bread. Make a sandwich with the following layers: bread slice, cheese, ham, cheese, bread slice. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
Toast ham and cheese sandwich in a large skillet, turning once or twice, until both sides are golden brown and cheese is melted. Place on a serving plate and top with fried egg.

Makes 1.

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10 Comments
  • Nutmeg Nanny
    August 10, 2009

    This looks so comforting and delicious. I have never had a croque madame but I should give it a try:)

  • sophia
    August 10, 2009

    Hi! I love your blog, and I make a lot of recipes from it. Would you mind if I posted some the recipes from here on my blog, as long as I say that they are from here? Thanks – Sophia

  • Sophie
    August 11, 2009

    I love a good croque Madame!! Here in Belgium, we eat that a lot!!

  • Loulou
    August 11, 2009

    One of our locals cafés makes the best Croque Madame! It makes a fantastic lunch with a salad.

  • Christopher
    August 16, 2009

    I truly enjoy your website. I love Croque madame. However, next time you make it. Whisk one egg with a little milk and “dunk” your cold but completed sandwhich in the egg. (As if you were making french toast.) Then fry. Make a world of difference!

  • Suzie100
    December 21, 2009

    Oh this sounds amazing, I was looking for a savoury snack and this hits the spot, I’m starving now.

  • While you could pile one of these up with sliced ham to make the sandwich a bit heartier, I prefer to keep it a little on the lighter side and use just a slice or two of ham in the middle.

  • برامج
    May 22, 2010

    thank you

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