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Croque-Madame Casserole

Source of Recipe


From "The Deen Family Cookbook" by Paula Deen



List of Ingredients



• 8 Tbsp (1 stick) butter
  
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  
• 2½ cups milk
  
• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  
• ¾ tsp salt, plus more for seasoning
  
• ½ tsp pepper, plus more for seasoning
  
• ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  
• 10 to 12 slices white bread
  
• 8 ounces (about 8 slices) deli ham
  
• 1½ cups (6 ounces) grated Gruyère cheese
  
• 6 eggs
  






Instructions



1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
   To make a Béchamel sauce, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet and cook until bubbling. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thick and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes more. Whisk in the mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
   
   
2. Pour a thin layer of the sauce into the prepared baking dish and cover it with 5 or 6 slices of the bread, then 4 slices of ham, and an even layer of the cheese (¾ cup). Repeat the layers once more, ending with a third layer of sauce to cover all. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven and cut it into 6 equal pieces.
   
   
3. Fry the eggs. Working in 2 batches, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crack 3 eggs into the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the whites are nearly set, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the eggs and continue cooking until the whites are completely set, about 1 minute more. You're going to top each portion of the casserole with a fried egg. Repeat with the remaining 3 eggs and 1 tablespoon butter.
   
   Serves 6