This fancy French Salmon Croque Madame makes a delightful brunch meal, made using leftover salmon. A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur with a poached or fried egg on top.
Salmon Croque Madame
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp plain flour
500ml milk, warmed
pinch nutmeg
300g gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated
½ cup parmesan, freshly grated
8 slices brown toast bread
anchovy paste or Dijon mustard, for spreading
200g leftover roasted sticky chilli salmon
4 eggs
salmon taramasalata, to serve
Method:
Preheat oven to 200°C. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat, add flour and stir for 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk and whisk constantly until sauce is thickened.
Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and nutmeg.
Add half of the gruyere and all the parmesan.
To toast the bread, place slices on 2 baking sheets and bake for 5 minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another 2 minutes until toasted.
Lightly brush 4 slices of bread with mustard or anchovy paste, add a quarter of the salmon to each, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Spoon over a little cheese sauce, top with second slice of bread. Spoon over a little more cheese sauce and sprinkle with the remaining gruyere cheese. Bake sandwiches for 5 minutes.
Turn oven to grill and continue to cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Fry eggs for 3-5 minutes, depending on how cooked you like them.
Remove eggs when cooked and place on top of grilled salmon croque madame.
Serve croque madame with taramasalata on the side.
Smart Tip:
Swap out the salmon and replace with four thick slices of good-quality ham and some caramelised onions.
