Croque Monsieur & Madame Sandwich

I've heard about this gorgeous French sandwich in the 'It's Complicated' movie. Fortunately, nothing is complicated about the recipe. The gentleman, called Croque Monsieur has an elegant lady on his right: Croque Madame is wearing a lovely fired egg hat.

These baked sandwiches could make a perfect brunch or quick dinner for all who is in a rush but cannot live without warm meals... btw, we have something in common. I'm sick when I have to spend my whole day on cold sandwiches and biscuits.

As always, I recommend you, boost these sandwiches with your favourite ingredients. Add pickles, use spicy chorizo, a characteristic cheese, cream cheese or even a different sauce. It's like a blank canvas: it's up to you what will you pull out of the oven... right?!

Ingredients

for one sandwich

2 slices of sourdough
30 g butter
30 g flour
30 g milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Grated Gruyère
1 thick slice of cooked ham
Sunny-side-up egg - for the Croque Madame

Instructions

Turn on the oven at 180 °C.
Let's prepare a simple Bèchamel first: melt the butter, whisk in the flour, add the milk and cook on medium heat till it thickens.
Spread this sauce on one sourdough, then spread the Dijon mustard on the other slice.
Top both slices with some cheese, then place the ham on one sourdough slice and close the sandwich halves.
Top the sandwich with more mustard, sauce, and for sure... add more cheese as well.
Bake it for 15 minutes and finish it with 5 minutes on the grill function.