Strammer Max (Breakfast/Brunch Open-face Sandwich)
German open-face sandwich of ham, cheese, and eggs. Perfect breakfast or brunch recipe.
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter, as needed
- 2-3 tablespoons avocado oil, as needed
- 4 slices hearty, artisan bread (sourdough, French baguette, etc.), sliced approximately 1/2" to 3/4" thick
- 8 slices flavorful ham (prosciutto, tavern ham, black forest ham, etc.)
- 8 slices cheese (Fontina, Muenster, Havarti, etc.), or Gouda Cheese Sauce (recipe below)
- 8 eggs, 2 per sandwich, cooked to order (over-medium, scrambled, fried, etc.)
- 3 tablespoons chives, sliced/snipped
Gouda Cheese Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk, more as needed to thin the sauce, if needed
- 2 cups Gouda cheese, shredded, see Notes
- sea salt , to taste, see Notes
- freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
Instructions
- In a shallow skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter with 1 tablespoon of the oil.
- Once hot, fry the slices of bread on both sides, adding more oil and butter as needed. Set aside, but do not cover.
- If you are making the Gouda Cheese Sauce, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once hot, add the flour and stir with a whisk, breaking up all lumps. Continuously stir for 2 minutes; this will take the raw flour taste out of your sauce. Turn the heat down if it is beginning to brown. You want to keep a light-colored sauce.
- Add the milk and stir occasionally until you can see the sauce beginning to thicken, then stir continually until thickened further, but still a bit pourable.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cheese in two additions, stirring until the cheese has melted after each addition.
- Taste and adjust any salt and pepper according to your tastes. Turn the heat to the lowest setting on the smallest burner until ready to use. Add more milk as necessary if the sauce has thickened to where it is not pourable.
- Cook the eggs according to preference. I found cooking 2 at a time when the yolks need to be intact worked well since that is 2 per serving. Scrambled eggs are easy to cook several at once, then divide into servings.
- To assemble, per person, layer 1 slice of bread, 2 slices of ham, 2 slices of cheese, or a ⅓ cup cheese sauce, 2 eggs cooked to order, and sliced chives.
- Dig in with a knife and fork!
Notes
If you make the cheese sauce, purchase Gouda cheese in the red rind if you can. It’s most likely a younger Gouda which will melt easier.
Take the pot off the heat when adding the cheese. It will blend easier and be less likely to “break” the sauce. Don’t add salt until after the cheese has been thoroughly combined, because the cheese will add salt to your sauce. You can add as needed once the sauce has been completed. Nutrition chart was calculated with no additional sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, Fontina cheese, prosciutto, and French bread. The chart shown is a guestimate only. Calculate for yourself if you need more accurate results.
Take the pot off the heat when adding the cheese. It will blend easier and be less likely to “break” the sauce. Don’t add salt until after the cheese has been thoroughly combined, because the cheese will add salt to your sauce. You can add as needed once the sauce has been completed. Nutrition chart was calculated with no additional sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, Fontina cheese, prosciutto, and French bread. The chart shown is a guestimate only. Calculate for yourself if you need more accurate results.
Nutrition Facts
Strammer Max (Breakfast/Brunch Open-face Sandwich)
Amount per Serving
Calories
626.9
% Daily Value*
Fat
46.19
g
71
%
Saturated Fat
19.8
g
124
%
Trans Fat
0.04
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
5.09
g
Monounsaturated Fat
16.77
g
Cholesterol
457.45
mg
152
%
Sodium
1382.3
mg
60
%
Potassium
239.05
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
16.34
g
5
%
Fiber
1.38
g
6
%
Sugar
1.35
g
2
%
Protein
36.87
g
74
%
Vitamin C
3.92
mg
5
%
Calcium
383.02
mg
38
%
Iron
2.84
mg
16
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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