Hash brown croque madam

Following the buzz around hashbrowns on TikTok I thought I would do my own version. This is introducing simple Hashbrowns to the wonders of croque madame. A creamy béchamel sauce, lot of cheese, smoked ham and egg, a great hearty breakfast or brunch.

Feeds to 2 hungry adults

Ingredients:

Hashbrown:

1 large potato (about350g/12oz), washed

1 tbsp plain flour

1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 

Salt and pepper

2 Tbsp of Butter

2 Tbsp of olive oil

Béchamel sauce

125ml milk

125ml cream

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 bay leaves

1 small onion, quartered

20g butter

20g plain flour

1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard

fresh nutmeg, grated

1 cup  shredded Gruyère

smoked ham – 2 slices

2 eggs

Fresh chives

Directions

Fire up the pizza oven or grill.

Grate the unpeeled potato onto a clean tea towel. Bring up the edges of the towel, then squeeze over the sink to remove any excess water in the potatoes. Tip into a bowl and add the flour and mustard. Season well and mix together.

Heat up a frying pan then add olive oil and butter

Divide the mixture into 4 balls place in the pan and flatten. Cook for 2-3 mins on each side, over a medium heat, until golden and cooked through.

Now to the béchamel sauce. Put the milk, cream, garlic, bay leaves and onion in a small pan over a medium heat and stir together. Heat until nearly boiling, then turn the heat off and leave for 10 mins to infuse. Pass the liquid through a sieve and discard the bay and onion.

Melt the butter with the flour in another pan and cook over a gentle heat until it smells biscuity. Gradually whisk in the warm milk mixture and bring to a gentle boil, stirring regularly, then add the Dijon mustard, a little grating of fresh nutmeg and some seasoning. It should be a lovely thick creamy sauce with a deep flavour.

Now time to create your masterpiece

For each dish/portion, place your first Hashbrown on the plate, then your Ham, then cheese – Then place under a grill to melt the cheese. Add the second Hasbrown, then pour over your béchamel sauce, more cheese then grill again to melt the cheese.

Fry off your eggs, then place on your hashbrowns towers.

Sprinkle fresh chives

Enjoy!