What started as a croque madame with custard instead of the usual white sauce turned into a Monte Cristo with a poached egg. Unable to call it a croque madame, I turned to Twitter for help. Some dude named Zap Shakur suggested I go with Madame Cristo — grilled ham and cheese, and the rest is history. Top it with poached or fried eggs and garnish with fresh chives.
Ingredients
- 0.5 cups heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 4 slices white bread
- 8 thins slices Havarti cheese
- 4 ounces thinly sliced honey baked ham , halved
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 0.5 teaspoons Champagne vinegar
- 2 eggs
- 2 pinches cayenne pepper , or more to taste
Instructions
-
1
Combine heavy cream, 2 eggs, lemon zest, salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl until batter is thin and runny. (Add 2 tablespoons more cream if needed.)
-
2
Toast bread until lightly browned; place on a flat surface. Divide and place Havarti cheese onto toast; divide and place ham onto cheese. Bring 2 pieces toast together to make 2 sandwiches. Place 1 sandwich into batter. Flip several times to coat evenly; place on a plate. Repeat with second sandwich.
-
3
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches; cook until outside browned and cheese melted, about 4 minutes per side.
-
4
Meanwhile, fill a large saucepan with 2 inches water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add vinegar and keep water at a gentle simmer. Crack 1 egg into a small bowl, then gently slip it into the simmering water, holding the bowl just above the surface of the water. Repeat with remaining 1 egg. Cook until egg whites are firm and yolks are thickened but not hard, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
-
5
Transfer sandwiches to plates; dust with 1 pinch cayenne pepper. Transfer eggs to a kitchen towel with a slotted spoon to remove excess water; place onto each sandwich. Dust with 1 pinch cayenne pepper.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
Want to cook this?
Open in the PantryLink app to scale servings, check your pantry stock, and generate a shopping list.
Sign In to Save Recipe Create Free AccountSuggest an Edit
Help improve this recipe's categorization, image, or dietary info. Earn points and badges!
Suggest Changes in AppPrefer a printed copy? Use our print-friendly view with adjustable servings and font size.
Open Print ViewMore French Recipes
Mango and White Chocolate Mousse Cake
White chocolate, mango, and whipped cream create a light and elegant dessert.
Roasted Rutabaga and Squash Soup
A delicious, easy to make rutabaga soup for brisk winter evenings.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
This easy slow cooker chicken and rice dish comes together in minutes and the slow cooker does the rest. Make sure you use converted rice, otherwise it gets mushy and don't skip the Parmesan cheese.