CROQUE MONSIEUR (OR MADAME!) WITH CHILLI JAM

MAKES 2

Who says gender is fixed? Even a classically elegant monsieur sometimes feels like being the madame of the ball. The simplest ingredients play a starring role here, so for a knockout performance, make sure they’re all good-quality – especially the bread.

3-4 tbsp butter

1 tbsp plain all-purpose flour

100ml milk

150g gruyère or cheddar, grated pinch of chilli flakes

4 thick slices of good-quality

white bread

2 tbsp chilli jam or bacon jam

2-4 slices of prosciutto (or try

salami), torn into strips

FOR THE MADAME

1 tbsp butter

2 free-range chicken eggs

1 Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 30 seconds, then add the milk slowly in a few batches, making sure the mixture is smooth and the milk is fully incorporated before adding the next lot.

2 Cook for 4–5 minutes until the sauce is of a good thick consistency, then stir in half the cheese and season with the chilli flakes.

3 Preheat the grill to high.

While you’re keeping one eye on stirring and thickening the sauce, melt another 2 tablespoons of butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat.

4 Add the bread – probably two slices at a time, depending on how big your pan is – and cook on one side only for

2-3 minutes until it starts to brown and crisp up. You may need to add more butter to the pan. Cook the remaining slices in the same way.

5 Transfer two slices of the bread, cooked-side down, to a baking tray and spread with the jam.

6 Top with the prosciutto and the rest of the grated cheese. Grill for a minute or two, just to melt the cheese, then top with the other slices of bread, placing them cooked-side up and pressing down lightly. Pour the cheesy sauce over and return to the grill for 3-4 minutes until golden and outrageously gooey. 7 While the monsieurs are finishing up, you can get your madame ready, if you’re feeling so inclined. Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium and fry the eggs to your liking – ideally, runny yolks all round. When the sandwiches are ready, top with the eggs and serve.