Monte Cristo Sandwich | Nik Snacks
When I was a kid, there was a diner not far from our house, Oak Lane Diner on North Broad Street, in Philadelphia. It closed in 2015, butevery time I visited the city, I tried to eat at least one meal there. In this place, it was the first time I had a Monte Cristo sandwich. As I munched down on the crispy edges and dipped it in the strawberry preserves on the side, my mom told me the nutshell version of The Count of Monte Cristo along with a biography of his creator, author Alexandre Dumas.
The only thing the book and the sandwich have in common is it's a Francophile. It's an Americanized hybrid of a croque monsieur-madame kind of thing. This recipe of mine is a version that takes leftover Thanksgiving ham and/or turkey, makes a spirited raspberry at the grilled cheese's mom and sleeps with its sister.
It's dipped in a thick, creamy batter and pan-griddled in butter. And then there's powdered sugar dusted on top. Typically, a sugary-sweet berry sauce is served on the side or poured on top, but I put Thanksgiving's leftover cranberry sauce on the inside to make this the most decadent thing since deep fried Twinkies.
I realize that after indulging and stuffing yourself with 1000s of calories over the Thanksgiving holiday, pan-frying a sandwich dipped in cream and egg may not set well with you, but guess what: Eat some quinoa and be sad or just tell your family to order the extra large casket while making arrangements because [insert annoying exclamation that begins with 'Y' here]!
I realize that after indulging and stuffing yourself with 1000s of calories over the Thanksgiving holiday, pan-frying a sandwich dipped in cream and egg may not set well with you, but guess what: Eat some quinoa and be sad or just tell your family to order the extra large casket while making arrangements because [insert annoying exclamation that begins with 'Y' here]!
Monte Cristo Sandwich
Yield: 1
This sandwich is dipped in a thick, creamy batter and pan-griddled in butter. And then there's powdered sugar dusted on top. Typically, a sugary-sweet berry sauce is served on the side or poured on top, but I put Thanksgiving's leftover cranberry sauce on the inside to make this the most decadent thing since deep fried Twinkies.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 slices Gruyere or Provolone cheese
- 2 slices leftover ham and/or turkey
- 1 Tbsp prepared cranberry sauce
- 1 egg
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 Tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Spread 1 slice of bread with the Dijon mustard. Then layer on 1 slice of cheese followed by both slices of ham or turkey and the last piece of cheese.
- Spread the cranberry sauce on the other piece of bread, then press it, spread side down, on top of the cheese to create the sandwich.
- Place a skillet over medium-high heat. As the skillet heats, whisk the egg, flour and milk in a shallow bowl until blended.
- Put the butter in the center of the pan. As it starts to melt, hold the sandwich together firmly and briefly submerge one surface in the egg batter then twist and submerge the other surface.
- Immediately place the sandwich in the pan, before the butter browns. Grill the sandwich on the first side for about 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown. Then flip it with a spatula and grill it on the second side for another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Using a spatula, transfer the sandwich from the pan to a plate or cutting board, slice it in half and dust with powdered sugar and serve.
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About the author
Nikki Miller-Ka
Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.
Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
Nikki...wish you were here so I could hug you -- this looks FAB!!! We eat with abandon all of Thanksgiving weekend, so I can make this and not feel bad at all. Then, I can eat quinoa come the following Monday ;).
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Wendy! You're so sweet to me! Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteI love everything about these sandwiches, they are some of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteMe too! It's like my childhood all over again
DeleteI die for Monte Cristos!! Only a girl who has frequent diners in the Northeast can do it right! And with Thanksgiving leftovers - even better.
ReplyDeleteIThanks, Bri! I'm really looking forward to eating dinner so that I can make more of these!
DeleteOh,yeah! I can get behind this scrumptious sandwich! Come next Monday, I'll get back on the treadmill ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz!
DeleteThis looks wonderful, I have not had a monte cristo forever!!
ReplyDeleteNow's your chance! Or maybe with other holiday leftovers?
DeleteI've never had a Monte Cristo sandwich, and truthfully I never knew what it was until now! Wow...that is one truly indulgent sandwich!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my post enlightened you!
DeleteThis deliciousness needs to make it's way to my life! YUM!!
ReplyDeleteMake 'em for the kids! They'll love them!
DeleteSo many amazing Sunday Supper dishes this week! This one might just be my favorite, I love a good monte cristo!
ReplyDeleteA Monte Cristo is in my top 5 favorite sammies of all time. I want this now - no waiting for leftovers!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my all time favorite sandwiches! Looking forward to making one this Friday with all those awesome left overs!
ReplyDeleteThere's a dieting saying that goes something like, "It's not what you eat between Thanksgiving and New Year's...it's what you eat between New Year's and Thanksgiving that matters!" Bring on the Monte Cristo leftovers! :-)
ReplyDelete"This recipe of mine is a version that takes leftover Thanksgiving ham and/or turkey, makes a spirited raspberry at the grilled cheese's mom and sleeps with its sister."
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! :-D Also, I'll have 2 of these sandwiches!
Happy Thanksgiving Nikki!!
What a great line up of delicious recipes! I love that you can use up left over ham or turkey in this sandwich!
ReplyDeleteI just made monte cristo sandwiches last week - they are the best sandwiches ever! yours looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe'd have to go to a fancy restaurant to get one of these when I was a child. These look great!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many amazing ideas here! The monte crisco is really fun, too. Nice twist on the traditional "leftovers sandwich"
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. YUM!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I've had a Monte Cristo. But man, they're good...especially with a smear of Dijon like you did here.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I've never had a monte cristo? I eat weird things, but I for some reason I can't get past the french toast, plus jam, plus deli meat combo. Yours looks good though, perhaps I'll give it a go.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for leftovers! Nothing is as good as a turkey sandwich!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is one sassy sandwich! I've never eaten a Monte Cristo--it's shameful, really. I need to change that pronto.
ReplyDeleteWOW I have never had a Monte Cristo before. I had no idea what I was missing, it sounds fab!!
ReplyDeleteUmmm, I'll take two sammiches, please!! Yum
ReplyDeleteMy mom goes just nuts for monte cristo sandwiches. This is such an inspired share for post-Thanksgiving bits! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite sandwich!! Yours looks crazy good!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE a Monte Cristo sandwich and this Monte Cristo has me making plans to replicate this lovely on Friday - Yum!
ReplyDeleteNext time you are in town - I need to check out that diner :)
Nikki you're the first one to mention ham. We often had ham and turkey on Thanksgiving! Monte Cristo are a great leftovers idea!
ReplyDeleteI have a coworker who ADORES this kind of treat, especially after our school's turkey lunches!
ReplyDeleteMy FAVORITE sandwich, ever!!! These look divine!
ReplyDeleteCreative article.....
ReplyDelete