Croque Tartine Parisienne (Egg-Topped Ham and Cheese Sandwich)

Name: Croque Tartine Parisienne (Egg-Topped Ham and Cheese Sandwich)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 6 tbsp. unsalted butter; 4 tbsp. flour; 1 cup milk; 5 1 ⁄ 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; 8 (1/4"-thick) slices country bread, lightly toasted; 8 oz. thinly sliced smoked ham; 16 oz. Gruyère cheese; 4 eggs; Crème fraîche, for garnish; Aleppo pepper, for garnish; Mixed green salad, for serving (optional); Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Serves
serves 4

JAMES ROPER

A fried egg crowns this decadent sandwich of ham enrobed in bechamel and melted cheese from Oklahoma City's Ludivine restaurant.

Ingredients

6 tbsp. unsalted butter
4 tbsp. flour
1 cup milk
5 ¹⁄₂ tbsp. Dijon mustard
¹⁄₄ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
8 (1/4"-thick) slices country bread, lightly toasted
8 oz. thinly sliced smoked ham
16 oz. Gruyère cheese
4 eggs
Crème fraîche, for garnish
Aleppo pepper, for garnish
Mixed green salad, for serving (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Step 1

Melt 4 tbsp. butter in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour; cook 2 minutes. Whisk in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until slightly thick, making a béchamel sauce, 6–8 minutes. Whisk in 1 1⁄2 tbsp. mustard, plus nutmeg, salt, and pepper; set sauce aside.

Step 2

Heat broiler to high. Place 4 slices bread on a baking sheet and spread 1 tbsp. mustard over each. Top each with 2 oz. ham, 2 tbsp. béchamel sauce, and 2 oz. cheese. Broil until cheese begins to melt, 1–2 minutes. Top with remaining bread slices and spread with remaining sauce; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Broil until cheese is browned and bubbly, 3–4 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a 12" nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggs and season with salt and pepper; cook until whites are cooked but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Place an egg on top of each sandwich, garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche, and sprinkle with Aleppo pepper. Serve with salad on the side, if you like.

Melt 4 tbsp. butter in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour; cook 2 minutes. Whisk in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until slightly thick, making a béchamel sauce, 6–8 minutes. Whisk in 1 1⁄2 tbsp. mustard, plus nutmeg, salt, and pepper; set sauce aside.
Heat broiler to high. Place 4 slices bread on a baking sheet and spread 1 tbsp. mustard over each. Top each with 2 oz. ham, 2 tbsp. béchamel sauce, and 2 oz. cheese. Broil until cheese begins to melt, 1–2 minutes. Top with remaining bread slices and spread with remaining sauce; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Broil until cheese is browned and bubbly, 3–4 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a 12" nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggs and season with salt and pepper; cook until whites are cooked but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Place an egg on top of each sandwich, garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche, and sprinkle with Aleppo pepper. Serve with salad on the side, if you like.