Madame Cristo – Grilled Ham and Cheese

Beginning as a Croque Madame but featuring custard instead of the typical white sauce, my creation morphed into a Monte Cristo topped with a poached egg. Realizing it could no longer be labeled as a Croque Madame, I sought assistance on Twitter. A user named Zap Shakur proposed the name Madame Cristo, and the rest is culinary history. Finish it off with poached or fried eggs and a sprinkle of fresh chives for garnish.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Course Main Course

Cuisine world cuisine

Servings sandwiches

Calories 903 kcal

Ingredients

For the Egg Batter

2 large eggs
½ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
4 slices white bread
8 thin slices Havarti cheese
4 ounces thinly sliced honey baked ham, halved
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon champagne vinegar
2 eggs
1 pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

Combine egg, heavy cream or milk, salt, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, and lemon zest in a bowl. Mix until batter is thin and runny. (Add 2 tablespoons more milk or cream if needed.)
Toast bread until lightly browned. Add Havarti cheese to each slice. Divide ham between two sandwiches. Bring the two halves of the sandwich together and place into the batter. Flip several times to coat evenly; place on a plate. Repeat with second sandwich.
Fill a large saucepan with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. In the meantime, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook sandwiches in the hot butter until outside is browned and cheese is melted, about 4 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, reduce saucepan heat to medium-low, pour in vinegar, and keep the water at a gentle simmer. Crack an egg into a small bowl, then gently slip it into the simmering water, holding the bowl just above the surface of water. Repeat with second egg. Cook until the egg white is firm, and the yolk has thickened but is not hard, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer sandwiches to plates and dust with cayenne pepper. Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon, dab on a kitchen towel to remove excess water, and place onto each sandwich. Dust with cayenne pepper.

Notes

You can substitute milk for the heavy cream, if desired.
Use any kind of melting cheese you like, such as Gruyere, Swiss, or Cheddar.

Nutrition

Calories: 903kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 40gFat: 70gSaturated Fat: 40gCholesterol: 566mgSodium: 2136mgPotassium: 254mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 492mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Madame Cristo – Grilled Ham and Cheese

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Article Categories:

French Recipes

Madame Cristo – Grilled Ham and Cheese