Delish Monte Cristo Sandwiches!

Monte Cristo Sandwiches are a great way to start off your morning. They’re perfect if you’re having sweet savory cravings! Monte Cristo Sandwiches are indulgent, decadent treats that have a complexity of flavors. They are all so delicious with simple steps. Anyone can make them. It’s just about sourcing and adjusting the ingredients properly.

What are Monte Cristo Sandwiches?

Monte Cristo Sandwiches are a grilled cheese and meat-packed toasted sandwich. They are dipped in a batter and garnished with powdered sugar. They are accompanied by a yummy fruit jam. The cheese provides a great base for the sandwich to stay together before being dipped in the batter. the batter is a semi-sweet egg-milk mixture like French toast with the addition of sugar. What really gives a distinction in my recipe is the Dijon mustard. the Dijon mustard provides the perfect balance between the sweet and savory flavor of the Monte Cristo.

Origins of the Monte Cristo

Monte Cristo Has origins from the Croquet Monsieur.  Monte Cristo sandwich is a decadent breakfast choice. This breakfast sandwich is made with ham, egg, bacon, and Swiss cheese. It also includes three slices of French toast. This combination makes it a beloved cafe favorite. The taste of the Monte Cristo sandwich is iconic and recognizable. Nonetheless, some cafegoers may wonder how this sandwich received its name.

The Monte Cristo sandwich is named after the novel of the same name, The Count of Monte Cristo. The book is deeply embedded in French culture. The Monte Cristo sandwich pays respect to its French origins with its flavor profile.

In the 1900s, the Croquet Monsieur was introduced to French cafés and restaurants. This simple ham and cheese sandwich is famous for its crunchy and satisfying texture. It has established itself as a staple lunch item. However, over time, cafés began experimenting with different variations of the Croquet Monsieur.

The prevailing variation of the sandwich was the Monte Cristo, which was served as a breakfast sandwich. The bread of the Croquet Monsieur was replaced with fluffy French toast. Bacon was added to bring savory notes to the sandwich. Jam and Dijon mustard also contributed to a more complex flavor.

For more information Check out this site- Monte Cristo Origins.

Helpful Tips-

• When Making the Monte Cristo Sandwiches, make sure to toast them in the oven first. The cheese aids in holding the sandwich together when dipped in the batter.
• Use a bowl to catch any batter when that may fall when placing on the pan. as these sandwiches can be a little messy to make.
• Soaking your bread too long can create a soggy mess. The bread will also soak up too much batter. This results in an off, spongy texture when tasted.
• As the batter sits the seasonings arise to the top. Make sure to whisk constantly to keep the mixture.
• Keep an eye on the bread in the oven! if toasted too long the sandwich may not be desirable and hard when placed on the skillet.

Ingredients and there use

• eggs- Always the great emulsifier with any milk. its what gives the bread its great flavor, and merges well with creamer to give our beloved sandwich its stability.
• Heavy Creamer- Always use heavy creamer over milk in any French toast or Monte Cristo. Milk can be quite thin and isn’t as impactful with with the depth heavy creamers aids in
• Brioche Bread- My go too! Brioche and specially thicker slices is so much more of a preference. The flavor and density of this bread is my go too for any batter dipped recipe.
• Provolone Cheese- A twist to the common Swiss in its original recipe. Provolone I used because of the smooth subtle taste. it has a great cheese pull too and intertwines well the ham
• Ham- Black Forest ham is oh so delicious and I definitely recommend from your nearest deli if available!
• Cranberries- for a tarty finish off of the sweet savory sandwich

Ingredients-

Ingredients

Recipe

Mis En place Ingredients -eggs (6) -heavy creamer (16 oz) -Sugar (1 cup) -butter- ( 1 block) -dijion mustard (1 TBSP) – Salt (1 TBSP) -Pepper (1 TBSP) – drizzle of canola oil -8 slices of provolone cheese – 8 Slices of Black Forest ham -Powdered sugar Cranberry Jam– – pack of frozen cranberries or other berries if preferred – 2 cups of sugar 🙂 -TBSP vanilla extract

Cranberry Jam -place skillet on medium low heat and add the berries. -allow to come to a simmer. Stir occasionally. This prevents the berries from burning. -when berries come to a soft consistency, add your sugar. Add vanilla extract. – Use a potato masher on the berries. – Keep mashing the berries. Continue until no skin is left. -once ready, let it cool at room temperature. Then set in fridge to chill. Batter– – whisk up the eggs in a large bowl. -add your Heavy Creamer -whisk together -add your sugar, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. -whisk together -set aside Sandwiches -assemble sandwiches -add one slice of cheese on each sandwich -layer each sandwich with ham – add the next slice of cheese atop the ham and add the nice slice of bread on top -place on sheet tray – Place in oven for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted -take out out of oven and allow to cool down until handle ready –Bringing everything together -Make sure your station is ready to prevent spill -dip the sandwiches in the batter for a quick second then hold above bowl so excess batter falls back in -add onto low medium heat skillet -allow to get a deep brown on each side -usually around 5 minutes per side – once done place on plate on use a sifter for a decadent powder sugar display take out cranberry jam, dip and enjoy this amazing Monte Cristo Sandwich treat

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