Monte Cristo sandwich is made with ham and Swiss cheese between two slices of bread, dipped in batter and fried. Variations include chicken, turkey, and bacon, and sweet versions with jam and powdered sugar. Bread and batter can be seasoned to taste.
A Monte Cristo sandwich is traditionally made with thinly sliced ham and Swiss cheese. The ingredients are placed between two slices of bread and then the entire sandwich is dipped in batter and pan-fried in butter or deep-fried in oil. After baking, the outside of the sandwich should be crispy and golden brown, and the cheese in the middle should be melted. Variations of Monte Cristo can be made with sliced chicken or turkey, and bacon can be added. Some people prefer a sweet Monte Cristo bun, which can be sprinkled with powdered sugar. To create the sweet version, the jam can also be spread into the sandwich before baking or used as a dip while eating.
Some Monte Cristo sandwich recipes call for the sandwich to be deep-fried, while others call for it to be pan-fried. Both methods usually result in a crispy, well-done sandwich. During both methods, it can be helpful to hold the sandwich together by securing it with toothpicks. After frying, the bun can be placed on a paper towel to absorb excess fat.
Many types of bread can be used when making this recipe. The most popular Monte Cristo sandwich is the white bun variety, but challah, sourdough, or any other type of artisan bread can be used. If you are using anything other than bun, the slices should not be too thick as this can prevent the internal ingredients from heating up and the cheese from melting.
The batter for a Monte Cristo sandwich is typically made from eggs and cream. This mixture can easily be seasoned to change the taste of the dish. For a sweeter version, vanilla, cinnamon or sugar can be added to the batter. A savory batter can be seasoned with salt, pepper and herbs. The bun should be dipped into the batter quickly and the excess batter gently shaken off. Leaving the sandwich in the batter for too long can result in soggy bread that may fall apart during baking.
It’s easy to tweak the dish to suit a person’s tastes. Any type of cured meat can be used and the cheese can be changed as well. People who prefer a sweet Monte Cristo sandwich can add a layer of their favorite jam between the meat and bread, or the sandwich can be dipped in jam before a person bites. Powdered sugar can also be sprinkled on the bun after it’s done baking to add a sugary note.
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