Quick Spin on Croque Madame
- 3 cups Water
- 3 Tablespoons Wine Vinegar Or Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 slices French Bread
- 2 slices Gruyere Or Other Melting Cheese
- 2 whole Fresh Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 2 slices Smoked Salmon
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 pinch Fresh Ground Black Pepper
- 1 pinch Cayenne
- 1 pinch Grated Nutmeg
- To poach the eggs, in a pot on the stovetop, bring the water and vinegar or lemon juice to a simmer.
- (You need 1 tablespoon of vinegar per cup of water.
- Also, if you use a nonstick pot, the water should be 1 inch deep.
- If you are using a regular pot, it needs to be about 3 inches deep.
- The vinegar or lemon juice will help the eggs keep their shape and not spread in water.)
- Meanwhile, place a skillet on medium heat.
- Spread the butter on both sides of the bread slices.
- Toast bread in the skillet on both sides.
- Place the slices of cheese on top of the bread, turn off the heat, cover, and let the cheese melt.
- At this point, the water in pot should be simmering.
- Carefully break the eggs one at a time into a small bowl, making sure the yolk is intact and the egg is good.
- Gently drop the egg in the simmering water.
- Do the same with the remaining egg.
- Turn off the heat, cover, and let the eggs cook for 4-5 minutes.
- This will make the egg yolk barely runny.
- If you want them softer, cook them for less time.
- Also, if you cook more eggs at once, you have to keep them longer, about 7-8 minutes for 4 eggs, for example, as they absorb more heat and need to cook longer to get the same consistency.
- Very carefully spoon out the eggs and place on a paper towel for a few seconds to dry them.
- Mix the mayonnaise and mustard in a bowl.
- Set aside.
- Place the slices of smoked salmon on top of the melted cheese.
- Add 1 poached egg on top of each slice.
- I let the bread sit in the skillet up till before serving, so they stay warm.
- Place the bread slices on a plate.
- Spoon over some mayo-mustard sauce.
- Season with little salt (not too much as the cheese and salmon are already salty), fresh ground pepper, some cayenne and/or a little grated nutmeg.
- Enjoy warm, with a side of salad, or just as it is.
water, vinegar, butter, bread, gruyere, eggs, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, salmon, salt, fresh ground black pepper, cayenne, nutmeg
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/quick-spin-on-croque-madame/ (may not work)