Croque Madame Hot Dish

Ingredients

• 4
  
  tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
  
• 10
  
  slices white country bread, halved
  
• 1/4
  
  cup all-purpose flour
  
• 3
  
  cups whole milk
  
• 2
  
  tablespoons Dijon mustard
  
• 1
  
  pinch Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, more to taste
  
• 1/2
  
  pound hinly sliced ham, such as Virginia or Black Forest, coarsely chopped
  
• 8
  
  ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (2 cups)
  
• 6
  
  large eggs
  

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Generously grease a 9 by 13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with butter.
2. Spread the bread on a large baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, until dry and very lightly toasted.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking continuously, until a paste forms and it starts to bubble, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring the sauce to a boil and then simmer over medium-low heat until thickened and no floury taste remains, about 7 minutes. Whisk in the mustard and season the sauce with salt and pepper.
4. Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in the prepared baking dish. Arrange half the toast in the baking dish and spread half the remaining sauce on top. Scatter half the ham and cheese on the coated bread. Repeat the layering one more time with the remaining bread, sauce, ham, and cheese.
5. Bake the hot dish for 15 minutes, until hot and the cheese has melted. One at a time, crack the eggs onto the hot dish so that the whites spread a little and the yolks sit in little divots. Bake the hot dish for 12 to 15 minutes more, just until the egg whites are just set but the yolks are still runny. Serve hot.