Monte Cristo and Me

I had my first Monte Cristo sandwich driving home from a bowling tournament in Reno. I was in some diner perusing the menu, when “Monte Cristo Sandwich” jumped off the page. A Monte Cristo, I mulled. I’d never had one before, and for some reason it sounded glamorous, so I ordered one up.

When it arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes! Why take a perfectly good ham, turkey, and cheese sandwich, batter it in eggs and then fry it? And to top it off, why the heck would they serve it with jam?! This was nothing I had expected, but I’m nothing if not open minded, so I took my first bite of the Monte Cristo…It was perfection, pure and simple perfection.

A medley of flavors played out in my mouth: The smoothness of melted Swiss cheese, lovingly laid over tasty ham and turkey, situated between bread coated in an egg-wash batter. The delightful fragrance of bread fried to a golden brown (and who doesn’t think almost everything is better fried?), topped off with a sweet jam. I was hooked.

The Monte Cristo’s origins are a little shady, but it is thought the sandwich is a variation on the French croque-monsieur (a hot ham and cheese with some grilling action). The Monte Cristo Hotel is rumored to be the first place the sandwich was ever featured on a menu.

Ever since that fateful Reno trip, I automatically look for the Monte Cristo sandwich at every diner I visit. Sadly, the Monte Cristo appears to be a vanishing Americana menu item. This easy-to-make sandwich could be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and will quickly become a family favorite. Try it today and give a salute to the Monte Cristo of yore.

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Adapted Monte Cristo recipe:

Ingredients:

1 quart oil for frying, or as needed
2/3 cup water
1 egg
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
8 slices white bread
4 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices turkey
4 slices ham
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat 5 inches of oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). (You may also sauteé just in clarified butter if you want to avoid the oil.) While oil is heating, make the batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper; whisk into the egg mixture until smooth. Set aside in the refrigerator.

Assemble sandwiches by placing one slice of turkey on one slice of bread, a slice of ham on another, then sandwich them with the Swiss cheese in the middle. Cut sandwiches into quarters, and secure with toothpicks.

Dip each sandwich quarter in the batter so that all sides are coated. Deep fry in the hot oil until golden brown on all sides. Remove toothpicks and arrange on a serving tray. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.