Monte Cristo Sandwich
Servings 4 servings
Calories 810kcal
Ingredients
- 8 slices Italian bread 3/4 inch thick slices
- 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 lb fully cooked deli or baked ham
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
- pinch ground nutmeg
- 4 Tbsp salted butter additional as needed
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Plum, cherry or raspberry preserves for serving
Instructions
- Pair slices of bread matching according to size.
- In a small bowl stir together, cheese, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Mix well. Divide the cheese mixture evenly between the bread slices. Spread from end to end.
- Divide ham into fourths' place on one piece of the cheese slathered bread then top with second bread slice.
- In a shallow dish whisk together eggs, cream and nutmeg. Carefully dip each sandwich into egg wash coating well on both sides.
- Heat 2 Tbsp butter in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook two sandwiches at a time for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and the cheese melts. Add more butter between batches, as needed.
- Serve immediately dusted with powdered sugar and preserves.
Notes
- Protein: You can also use leftover slices of turkey or deli turkey to make a turkey monte cristo.
- Ham: You can use leftover ham or deli meat such as Virginia ham.
- Bread: I recommend using one of those fluffy, inexpensive loaves of Italian bread from the grocery store bakery for these sandwiches. It isn't always even width from end to end, so pair like-size pieces together before you start. You can also use Texas toast, challah, sourdough, honey wheat bread or brioche bread.
- Cheese: You can substitute using Gruyere or Fontina cheese in place of Swiss cheese. You can also use thick slices of cheese in place of shredded cheese. When doing so, slather the mayo and mustard directly on the bread.
- Preserves: This type of pan-fried sandwich is typically served with plum preserves, raspberry jam or cherry preserves on the side. Doing so gives it that sweet and salty combination that's so appealing.
- Honey Mustard: If preferred, you could dip the monte cristo in honey mustard.
- Preserves Substitution: You can also serve them with maple syrup or honey for dipping.
- Salt: If you use unsalted butter for frying, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the egg batter.
- Can I Lighten Up the Sandwich? This isn't a light dish in any way shape or form. That being said, you may use 2% milk or low fat half and half in place of heavy cream. You can also sub 2% Swiss to lighten it just a smidge. Think of this sandwich as a treat.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 810kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 290mg | Sodium: 1947mg | Potassium: 571mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 758IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 587mg | Iron: 3mg