I know it’s January 7th, and I should be eating kale and tofu and sipping on homemade kombucha, and I definitely should not be interrupting your New Years’-resolution-dining regimen with visions of béchamel-slicked toast layered with black forest ham, Gruyère cheese, and oozing poached eggs, but, um: Sorry? Hear me out: while this open-faced sandwich looks/sounds a bit decadent, it’s not so bad. This is one of those things where a little of everything — a tablespoon of béchamel, a slice of ham, a handful of cheese — goes a long way. A sprinkling of fresh thyme right out of the oven is essential, and if you’re avoiding meat, this of course could be made vegetarian with sautéed greens or braised leeks or roasted endive.

Elements of Croque Monsieur and Madame

good breadbéchamelham or vegetable of choiceGruyère cheeseperfectly poached egg

Best Bread for Croque Monsieur and Madame

Any good bread will work here. Be sure to slice it on the thick side, at least 1/2-inch thick, to ensure it can withstand the many layers it will eventually support. Here are some ideas:

My Mother’s Peasant Bread: The Best, Easiest Bread You will Ever BakeQuinoa-Flax Toasting BreadEverything Bagel Peasant BreadSeedy Sandwich Bread

How to Make Béchamel Sauce

Béchamel is simply milk thickened with a roux (a mixture of fat + flour). In this croque monsieur/madame, the roux includes the addition of sautéd onion and a bay leaf, both of which add flavor, though each certainly could be omitted. In short, to make béchamel:

How to Perfectly Poach an Egg

You can find more details on this post, Perfect Poached Eggs, but in short:

What to Serve with Croque Monsieur or Madame?

A salad of course! Here’s an idea: a mix of wintry greens, shaved fennel, and lots of fresh dill tossed in a clementine dressing

Clementine Salad Dressing: Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of finely minced shallots in a small bowl. Season with a pinch of kosher salt. Juice three clementines over the shallots and let macerate for 15 minutes. Slowly whisk in at least 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil. Taste, adding more olive oil if necessary and a tablespoon or so of white balsamic vinegar if you need a little more bite.Simple winter salad: Greens, shaved fennel, sliced endive, and lots of chopped fresh herbs: dill, mint, chives — whatever you like best.

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