Rachael Ray's Deviled Ham Croque Madame

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 lb deli ham, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 3 small sprigs fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons onions, grated
• black pepper
• 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• nutmeg, fresh grated to taste
• 4 slices thick bread, or 4 slices brioche bread
• 16 thin asparagus spears
• 2 cups gruyere cheese, grated
• 4 extra large eggs

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 375°f.
• 2 place ham in the bowl of a food processor with the mustard, tabasco, paprika, parsley sprigs, grated onion and a few grinds of pepper. process until very finely chopped and combined.
• 3 melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. whisk in milk and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. thicken to coat spoon.
• 4 arrange bread on a baking sheet and spread the deviled ham evenly over the slices. top each with 4 asparagus spears then cover with béchamel sauce and some cheese. transfer to oven and bake until golden.
• 5 cook eggs to your liking and top each sandwich with an egg. serve with a few cornichons and extra mustard at the table.