Croque Madame de Lux
With Avocado, Crispy Bacon & Ham
A Little French Indulgence
Golden toasted bread, creamy Dijon béchamel, savoury ham, ripe avocado, crispy bacon and melted Gruyère, finished with a perfectly fried egg. My take on the classic Croque Madame brings together comforting French bistro flavours and a few extra touches of indulgence.
Ingredients
For 4 servings
Dijon Béchamel
- 1½ tbsp butter
- 1½ tbsp plain flour
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 300 ml milk
- 2 pinches ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
The Croque
- 8 slices of bread, preferably crusty
- Olive oil, for toasting
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 4 slices of ham
- 8 slices of bacon
- 300 g Gruyère, grated
- Freshly ground pepper
- A little Dijon mustard, for brushing
- Lemon juice, to taste
- Salt and fresh chilli, to taste
Fried Eggs
- ½ tbsp butter
- 4 eggs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
Prepare the Béchamel
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and cook briefly, stirring without allowing it to colour. Pour in the milk, whisking continuously, and bring gently to the boil. Stir in the Dijon mustard, reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the Avocado
Mash the ripe avocado with a little lemon juice, salt, freshly ground pepper and finely chopped fresh chilli. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Toast and Assemble
Toast the bread on both sides in a little olive oil. Fry the bacon until crisp. Place four slices of bread on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Spread with some béchamel, then layer with ham, avocado and bacon. Brush lightly with Dijon mustard and cover with the remaining bread slices.
Add the Gruyère
Spread the remaining béchamel over the top slices. Cover generously with grated Gruyère and finish with freshly ground pepper.
Bake Until Golden
Preheat the oven to 220°C. Bake the croques in the centre of the oven for approximately 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the tops are beautifully golden.
Finish with Fried Eggs
Heat the butter in a non-stick frying pan. Carefully add the eggs and cook gently until the whites are set and the yolks remain soft and runny. Season lightly, place one egg on each croque and serve immediately.
The Finishing Touch
For me, a good Croque Madame is all about contrast: crisp bread, creamy béchamel, beautifully melted cheese and the richness of a soft egg yolk. The avocado and bacon make this version a little more indulgent.
