Croque Madame Recipe
Makes 2 sandwiches
Ingredients
85 g Butter
85 g Cake flour
Pinch of Oryx desert salt
2 Bay leaves
250 ml Milk
3 Tblsp Parmesan cheese grated
4 Slices Sourdough
8 slices Gypsy ham
120 g Gruyere cheese
2 Tblsp Whole-grain mustard
2 Tblsp Butter
4 Eggs
1 Tblsp White wine vinegar
Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Ensure that top elements are on.
Make the béchamel sauce:
In a small saucepan, melt 85g butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add milk and bay leaves, allow to cook for 10 minutes, stirring until the sauce has thickened.
Remove bay leaves and stir in Parmesan.
Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
Arrange 2 slices of the sourdough on a working surface.
Spread 1 Tblsp of whole-grain mustard on each slice of sourdough and top with 4 slices of the gypsy ham.
Combine half of the Gruyere and the béchamel sauce. Taste for seasoning.
Spread the béchamel and Gruyere mixture on the 2 remaining slices of sourdough.
Close the sandwiches.
Heat a large cast iron skillet or frying pan and melt 1 Tblsp of butter.
Add the 2 sandwiches and toast until golden brown.
Turn over the sandwich to toast the other side and add more butter if required.
Transfer the sandwiches to a baking sheet and cover with the remaining béchamel sauce and grated Gruyere cheese.
Grill in the oven until the tops are golden brown.
Crack eggs into two separate small ramekins.
Add water and white spirit vinegar to a small pot (should be about 10 cm deep) and allow to simmer.
Stir the water and drop each egg gently into the simmering water.
Poach for 3 minutes and remove from the water using a slotted spoon.
Place the poached eggs on top of the sandwich and serve immediately.
Enjoy with your choice of Leopard's Leap Sparkling Cuvée Brut.