Cheese pull? Check! Runny Egg yolk? Check! Layers of Brioche bread baked with ham and a creamy cheese sauce? Check, check! The Croque Madame is the perfect brunch dish. It is impressive to serve and relatively easy to make - I will walk you through it, step by step. I love that it can also be prepared before your guests arrive. Save the fried egg for the end and you can have a stress-free, showstopper brunch dish.
This Three Cheese Croque Madame adds an additional layer of sophistication and "je ne sais quoi" with 3 French Cheeses from my collaboration with Cheeses of Europe and Feed Feed.(sponsored post)
You can shop all of the cheeses in this post right here. French Cheese delivered to your door? Oui, s'il vous plaît!
Shall we pour a glass of bubbles (hold the orange juice) and get started?
Tips for a Three Cheese Croque Madame
A croque Madame is essentially a classic Croque Monsieur sandwich that is then topped with a runny fried egg.
A Croque Monsieur is the French equivalent to a Grilled Cheese sandwich. A favorite food for French kids and a French Bistro menu staple. The addition of ham and a creamy béchamel sauce that you finish off in the oven make Croque Monsieur sandwiches incredible. It is a dish that must be eaten with a knife and fork!
While a Croque Madame traditionally is made with Gruyère Cheese, I prefer a strong Comté - it has a nutty flavor that I love. Instead of making a Béchamel (white sauce made with flour and milk), I like to make a Crémeux with Goat cheese. Using the goat cheese as a thickening agent with the milk makes for such a rich and decadent taste. Lastly, I like to top the Croque Madame with a really creamy cheese that has some bite to it, like a Langres or Époisses. Just a little bit is enough to elevate the dish.
Equipment Needed:
Very Little!
I love my sizzling trays, the perfect size for putting a Croque Madame in the oven.
A sauce pan, a whisk, a spatula and a non stick pan are the only other equipment you need.
A cheese grater is not even required for this recipe!
Le Chef’s Wife Croque Madame aux trois fromages
The decadence and richness of flavor of the Bûche de Chèvre, the Comté and the Langres make for an unforgettable French Bistro classic, with a twist!
Ingredients:
Croque Madame for One (Make sure to multiply the ingredients if you are making for more people!)
2 Slices of Brioche Bread
2 slices of European Ham, thickly sliced
4 slices of Comté Cheese, thickly sliced (¼ inch thick)
2 tbsp of butter (unsalted)
1 tbsp of Langres Cheese, cut into 5 small pieces
Crémeux de Chèvre
¾ cup whole cream
½ cup of Bûche de Chèvre, cut into small chunks
Sprinkle of nutmeg
1 Egg
Click on the Recipe Card below for the full recipe!
Serve with a little side salad and a glass of bubbles and you have a delicious French inspired Brunch.
Other French Brunch dishes you will enjoy:
Bon Appétit!
Au plaisir,
Le Chef’s Wife
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Three Cheese Croque Madame
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 1
- Category: French
- Method: baked, grilled
- Cuisine: French
Description
Topped with a runny egg, this Three Cheese Croque Madame is the perfect Brunch dish. The decadence and richness of flavor of the Bûche de Chèvre, the Comté and the Langres make for an unforgettable French Bistro classic, with a twist!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
Croque Madame for One (Make sure to multiply the ingredients if you are cooking for more people!)
2 Slices of Brioche Bread
2 slices of European Ham, thickly sliced
4 slices of Comté Cheese, thickly sliced (¼ inch thick)
2 tbsp of butter (unsalted)
1 tbsp of Langres Cheese, cut into 5 small pieces
Crémeux de Chèvre
¾ cup whole cream
½ cup of Bûche de Chèvre, cut into small chunks
Sprinkle of nutmeg
1 Egg (to serve on top)
Instructions
Pre-heat the oven to 350F
Crémeux de Chèvre
Heat the cream over medium low heat. Once it begins to lightly simmer, add the chèvre and the nutmeg. Stir frequently - do not let the cream come to a boil. Let reduce until it thickens. Remove from the stove.
Make the Croque Madame Sandwich:
Butter the base of one slice of Brioche Bread, set buttered side down.
Place the slices of Comté Cheese followed by a layer of ham on top.
Ladle a ¼ cup of Crémeux de Chèvre on top of the ham.
Top with the second slice of Brioche Bread, buttered on the outside.
Heat a non-stick pan with the remaining tbsp of butter over medium heat.
Grill the Croque Madame until the Brioche becomes golden on the outside, flip over. Grill until the other side is golden and the Comté is slightly melted inside.
Remove the sandwich from the pan with a spatula and set on a greased cookie sheet.
Ladle another ¼ cup of Crémeux de Chèvre on top of the sandwich (its okay if it runs down the sides)
Cook in the oven for 10 minutes.
Two minutes before the Croque Madame is ready to come out of the oven, fry an egg sunny side up in your greased non-stick pan over medium heat, leaving a runny yoke.
Remove the Croque Madame from the oven. Set on a plate.
Gently set the fried egg on top of the Croque Madame.
Sprinkle the small pieces of Langres cheese around the yolk. They will melt beautifully into the egg with the heat of the dish.
Serve immediately.
Bon Appétit!
Notes
A Croque Madame is just like a Croque Monsieur but with runny fried egg on top!
While a Croque Madame traditionally is made with Gruyère Cheese, I prefer a strong Comté - it has a nutty flavor that I love. Instead of making a Béchamel (white sauce made with flour and milk), I like to make a Crémeux with Goat cheese. Using the goat cheese as a thickening agent with the milk makes for such a rich and decadent taste. Lastly, I like to top the Croque Madame with a really creamy cheese that has some bite to it, like a Langres or Époisses. Just a little bit is enough to elevate the dish.
Keywords: Croque Madame, Croque Monsieur, Grilled Cheese
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