Cheat’s Croque Madame offers a delectable simplified take on the renowned French Croque Madame, featuring gruyere cheese, ham, and a sunny-side-up egg. Utilizing a sandwich press instead of traditional frying and baking methods significantly speeds up the preparation of this tasty dish.
If you’ve been to France you can’t help but come across their famous Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame fried sandwiches traditionally made with ham and Gruyère cheese and often dipped in egg and baked.
The sandwich press/toaster was first mentioned on a Parisian café menu in 1910.
Hence, I thought I’d use one to make a Cheats Croque Madame (topped with a fried egg) and add maple syrup to the Dijon mustard. These flavours marry so well.
This quicker, stripped-down Croque Madame is just as tasty as the traditional version but without all the fuss of dipping in egg, frying, or baking and my family loved it!
This Croque Madame serves 2 but can easily be scaled up to serve 4!
So whether you need a satisfying breakfast, brunch, or lunch, give this toasted sandwich a go,
I’m sure you’ll be as hooked as we are!
More toasted or fried sandwich recipes!
- Avocado Stuffed French Toast with Poached Egg
- Pizzetta Toast
- Cuban Pork Sandwich
- Mozarella Carrozza with Prosciuttio
- Ideas for Toasted Sandwiches
If you don’t fancy frying your egg for the top of the Crocque Madame you could use your air fryer to make my Air Fryer Baked Eggs with Cheese.
Pin for later!
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
Cheat’s Croque Madame
Ingredients
- 4 Slices multi-seeded bread
- 40 g butter softened
- 2 tsp rapeseed oil
- 2 Slices ham
- 3 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 80 – 100 g Gruyère cheese grated
- 2 free range eggs
Instructions
- Butter the bread and then place buttered side down.
- Mix the Dijon mustard and maple syrup together, then spread on 2 of the slices of bread (unbuttered side).
- Then add half the Gruyère to these 2 slices, followed by the ham slices and finish with the rest of the Gruyère.
- Close the sandwiches with the other 2 slices of bread (buttered side up).
- Pre-heat sandwich press/toaster and toast sandwiches until golden.
- Meanwhile heat 1 tsp of oil in small frying pan on a medium heat and fry 2 eggs until the whites are cooked and the yolk still runny.
- Once the sandwiches are toasted top with an egg and enjoy your Cheat’s Croque Madame!
Cat | Curly's Cooking
I love the look of this cheat’s version! A lot easier and I think I’d prefer it like this.
Camilla
Thank you Cat, it is much easier and just as tasty:-)
A S,Edinburgh
That’s a great idea! I love the combination of flavours in this.
Camilla
Thank you, it is lush-)
Kat Glynn
That looks quick, easy and tasty! x
Camilla
Thanks Kat:-)
June Etherington
Oh wow I love this recipe. I would really enjoy this one at lunch time. I’ve never thought of using maple syrup which I love. So will be giving it a go. xx
Camilla
Thanks June, glad to inspire:-)
Heidi Roberts
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
Camilla
They do indeed:-)
Paul Wilson
Looks like a great tasty snack.
Camilla
It really is Paul:-)
Mina Joshi
This sandwich looks delicious. I don’t eat eggs but my son does so I am going to pass on your recipe to him.
Camilla
Thanks, excellent Mina:-)