Penguin Books Australia

Free recipe from Manu's French Kitchen, Croque Monsieur, page 40.

Did you know that if you put a sunny-side-up egg on top of one of these sandwiches it becomes a croque madame? Because this dish is so simple, it only really works if you use the best of ingredients. That means good-quality white sourdough bread, leg ham and best-quality gruyère cheese. It just won’t be the same if you use shaved ham, cheddar and supermarket sliced bread.

4 slices leg ham
8 slices good-quality white bread, such as sourdough
1 × 300 g piece gruyère cheese
3 egg yolks
100 ml pouring cream
freshly ground black pepper
40 g unsalted butter, softened
green salad (optional), to serve

1. Preheat a griller to high and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Cut each slice of ham to match the size of the bread. Thinly slice 200 g of the gruyère and cut to match the size of the bread. Grate the remaining cheese and combine in a bowl with the egg yolks and cream, then season to taste with pepper.
3. Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter and place, buttered-side down, on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Top with a slice of gruyère, a slice of ham and another slice of gruyère. Top with the remaining bread slices and spread with the egg and cheese mixture, then grill under the griller until golden and bubbling. Serve immediately, with a green salad, if desired.

Serves 4