Croque Madame

Step 1

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk in the flour, and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.

Step 2

Gradually whisk in the milk and cook, whisking constantly, for 5 to 6 minutes until the sauce thickens into a béchamel.

Step 3

Stir 1 cup of the gruyere cheese into the béchamel until melted and smooth; set aside.

Step 4

Spread dijon mustard on 4 slices of bread, then layer with ham and the remaining 1 cup of gruyere cheese; top with the remaining bread slices.

Step 5

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat and grill the sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese has melted.

Step 6

Transfer the sandwiches to a baking sheet, spoon the béchamel sauce over the top, and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Step 7

While the sandwiches broil, fry the eggs in a separate skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the whites are set and the yolks are still runny.

Step 8

Top each croque madame with a fried egg and serve immediately.