What’s the difference between a croque madame and a croque monsieur?

The croque monsieur first appeared in French cafés in the early 1900s as a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a béchamel sauce, served as a snack. The name comes from the French verb croquer (“to bite, to crunch”).

When topped with a poached or fried egg it became known as a croque madame because it was said to resemble a woman’s hat.

History lesson over, reward yourself with the croque of your choice:

The croque monsieur

Get the recipe here.

The croque madame

Get the recipe here.