Croque madame traybake

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

Take a ham and cheese toastie to the next level with this croque madame traybake, ideal for brunch – and you can make the white sauce a day or two ahead of time

Prep:10 mins
Cook:30 mins

Serves 3
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 871
fat 40g
saturates 22g
carbs 74g
sugars 10g
fibre 4g
protein 52g
salt 4.8g

Ingredients

300ml milk
½ onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
20g butter
20g plain flour
1 tbsp English mustard
knob of soft butter
6 medium-sized slices bread, preferably sourdough
6 slices cooked smoked ham
6 slices gruyèreor any other hard, melty cheese you have
3 eggs
handful parmesan, finely grated

Method

To make the sauce, heat the milk in a saucepan with the onion, cloves and bay leaf. When boiling, turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 30 mins, then strain.
Melt the butter in another pan and add the flour. Cook for 4-5 mins until sandy. Gradually whisk in the milk, then cook over a medium heat, stirring, until you have a thick sauce. Stir in the mustard and season. Set aside to cool. Can be made up to two days ahead.
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a baking tray large enough to fit 3 slices of bread, then butter and toast the bread, and make 3 sandwiches with 2 slices of ham and cheese in each. Spread the white sauce on top, and make a small well in the sauce on each sandwich. Crack the eggs into the wells, then scatter over the parmesan. Bake for 20 mins or until the whites are just set.