Have you ever tried a monte cristo sandwich? It’s a perfect balance of sweet and savory!
Hey everyone, it’s Amanda from The Chunky Chef :) Today I’m sharing a really delicious monte cristo sandwich recipe! This sandwich is kind of like the cilantro of the sandwich world… People either love it, or hate it. My husband… definitely not a fan… but me, oh I love them! The balance of sweet and savory is just perfect.
If you’ve never heard of a monte cristo, it’s a classic diner type of food. You basically make a turkey, cheese, and ham sandwich, then batter and fry it. Once fried, it’s traditionally dusted with powdered sugar and served alongside some raspberry preserves. Some recipes forgo the fried part and cook it more like you would french toast, but the versions I’ve loved were fried, so I definitely wanted to heat up some oil for this one.
For a little bit of heat, I slathered some of my Habanero Beer Mustard on the sandwich before battering it. It may seem weird, to add mustard to something that you’ll serve with raspberry preserves… but trust me, those flavors go so perfectly. The mustard also helps cut the sweetness down.
For a little extra protein and yumminess, feel free to add a couple of slices of peppered bacon to the sandwich! Oh, and don’t be intimidated by frying… it’s actually MUCH easier than you’d think. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be frying up all sorts of things!
As far as what you could serve with this sandwich, the sky is the limit! I like a nice side of oven roasted fries or some Israeli couscous salad. Even a nice side salad would be perfect :)
If you’re intrigued by the monte cristo, I hope you give this one a try! I think you’ll really love it :)
PrintMonte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
Enjoy this classic diner sandwich at home!
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 8 slices swiss cheese
- 8–12 slices turkey
- 8–12 slices ham
- Habanero Beer Mustard (recipe below) or your favorite mustard
- 1 cup flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup water
- powder sugar for dusting
- raspberry preserves for dipping
Instructions
-
Line a baking sheet with paper towels and top with a wire cooling rack.
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Add 1-2 inches of vegetable or canola oil to a large heavy bottomed pot over MED heat until about 350 degrees F.
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While oil is heating up, make sandwiches.
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Start with one slice of bread, slather with mustard, top with turkey, top with slices of cheese, top with ham, and finish with another slice bread slathered with mustard (mustard side down).
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To keep the sandwich from falling apart, use toothpicks to secure the corners of the sandwich.
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To a large mixing bowl, add the egg and beat with a whisk. Add in flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and water. Whisk until smooth.
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Dip secured sandwich in batter, making sure to coat all sides.
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Carefully lower sandwich into the hot oil and fry for several minutes per side, or until golden brown.
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Remove sandwich from oil and place on top of the prepared cooling rack.
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Immediately before serving, dust with powdered sugar. Serve with raspberry preserves for dipping.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from Six Sister’s Stuff.
- Find the recipe for Habanero Beer Mustard here.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
Sally says
I absolutely hate mustard! I’d like to make this but do I have to use the mustard? Do restaurants use mustard on theirs?
Amy Engberson says
Fruit and cheese together make the absolute best combination!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
I always order a Monte Cristo sandwich when they’re on a menu somewhere. They’re my favorite. Yours looks amazing. I really need to make it, and not wait to have one only when out.
Andi - The Weary Chef says
I have actually never had one, but I definitely want one after seeing Amanda’s! I’ll have to make it at home to make a gluten free version. Thanks, Renee!
eat good 4 life says
Wow what an awesome sandwich!!
Sabrina says
My husband loves monte cristo sandwiches! This would be a perfect recipe to make for him!
Michelle De La Cerda says
I think this version looks fantastic. I love frying it, gives it some extra crunch and flavor.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I saw your photo and immediately thought how good it would be with fig preserves, too!
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
Best Monte Cristo Ever! The layers of meat is perfect!