Il Pollo Monte Cristo Recipes

MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• On a work surface, lay out 2 slices of bread and spread with mayonnaise. Top each slice with the 1 slice of Gouda and 1 slice of turkey each. Put the third slice of bread on top of one stack, and flip the remaining stack on top, cheese-side down, to make a triple-decker sandwich.
• Using a knife, cut the crusts off the sandwich (this helps to pinch and seal the ends). Wrap the sandwich tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. (Wrapping the sandwich in plastic wrap, compacts it, and prevents the egg batter from seeping in.)
• Combine the eggs and milk in a bowl. Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Unwrap the sandwich and dip it in the egg batter, to coat evenly. Gently place it in the skillet, and fry, turning once, until golden brown and hot, about 5 minutes total.
• Cut the Monte Cristo in 1/2, transfer it to a place, and garnish with the strawberry and orange. Spoon some jam over each 1/2 and serve immediately.

MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• Preheat a griddle and deep fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the griddle. Dunk the Texas toast on both sides in the French Toast Custard and grill until golden brown. Flip and add 1 slice Swiss cheese to each slice of toast. Then add 3 ounces ham on top of 6 of the toast slices, then top the ham with another slice of Swiss cheese. Top each ham and cheese toast with a cheese only toast, to form 6 sandwiches. Cook until the cheese melts, then remove from griddle and cool. Dunk the cooled sandwiches in the pancake batter until fully covered and put into the fryer. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 8 minutes. Serve with the Strawberry-Rhubarb Syrup.
• Beat the eggs well, then add the sugar and mix until emulsified and all the sugar has dissolved. Add the milk and vanilla and whisk until combined.
• Add the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and maple syrup to a saucepot. Place over medium heat and cook until fruit is soft, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then carefully puree with a hand blender.

MONTE CRISTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Heat oil in a large ovenproof sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper and herbes de Provence. Dust with flour; tap off excess. Cook, meaty side down, 5 minutes. Turn over; cook 1 minute. Add garlic and shallot; stir 30 seconds. Add wine; cook 1 minute. Add stock; cook 30 seconds. Add lemon juice. Transfer pan to oven. Bake until chicken is cooked through, 9 to 13 minutes. Transfer chicken to cutting board. Place pan over medium heat; simmer sauce 1 minute. Add butter; swirl pan until butter incorporates and sauce thickens slightly. Cut each breast into 4 slices; transfer each to a plate; top with sauce and garlic. Serve with spinach ; garnish with zest, if desired.

MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread bread with mayonnaise and mustard. Alternate ham, Swiss and turkey slices on bread.
• Beat egg and milk in a small bowl. Coat the sandwich with the egg and milk mixture. Heat a greased skillet over medium heat, brown the sandwich on both sides. Serve hot.

HOMEMADE MONTE CRISTO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Spread one side of 4 bread slices with mustard. Top remaining 4 slices with ham. Combine mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and mix together; sprinkle mixture evenly over ham and close sandwiches, mustard side down.
• In a shallow dish or bowl combine the eggs, milk and nutmeg and mix well. Melt butter in a large skillet or on a griddle over medium heat. Dip each sandwich in egg mixture, turning to coat. Let excess egg mixture drip into dish or bowl, and place sandwiches in hot skillet. Cook until golden brown and cheese is melted.

CHEF JOHN'S MONTE CRISTO BENEDICT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whisk 2 eggs, cream, white sugar, salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and allspice together in a bowl until batter is thoroughly combined.
• Lay bread slices into batter, one at a time, and let bread absorb the mixture. Turn bread slices in batter until almost all batter has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and melt butter in the hot skillet. Cook bread slices in the hot butter until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast slices to a baking sheet.
• Lay ham slices into the hot skillet and cook until meat begins to brown, about 1 minute per side.
• To assemble, place a Cheddar cheese slice on a slice of French toast, top with 2 slices of ham, and lay a Havarti cheese slice over ham.
• Bake in the preheated oven until French toast pieces are no longer wet, the batter is set, and cheese has melted and begun to brown, about 20 minutes.
• Place sandwiches on serving plates and top each with 2 poached eggs. Season with kosher salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread mustard on bread. Layer 4 bread slices with Swiss cheese, ham, and cheese again. Place remaining bread slices on top.
• In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture, turning to coat well.
• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. When butter is foamy, add the sandwiches, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Serve immediately, dusted with confectioners' sugar.

MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH - THE REAL ONE

Steps:

• Heat 5 inches of oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). 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.

MONTE CRISTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F Heat oil in a large ovenproof sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper and herbes de Provence. Dust with flour; tap off excess. Cook, meaty side down, 5 minutes. Turn over; cook 1 minute. Add garlic and shallot; stir 30 seconds. Add wine; cook 1 minute. Add stock; cook 30 seconds. Add lemon juice.
• Transfer pan to oven. Bake until chicken is cooked through, 9 to 13 minutes. Transfer chicken to cutting board. Place pan over medium heat; simmer sauce 1 minute. Add butter; swirl pan until butter incorporates and sauce thickens slightly.
• Cut each breast into 4 slices; transfer each to a plate; top with sauce and garlic. Serve with spinach; garnish with zest, if desired.

ULTIMATE MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• To make the Batter: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne, and salt.
• Whisk in the club soda and beer.
• The mixture should be the consistency of pancake batter.
• Refrigerate until you're ready to use it.
• To assemble the Sandwiches: Set half of the slices buttered side down, and cover with the cheese slices, folding them over if they extend past the edges.
• Layer the ham and turkey over the cheese, and spread the jam over the turkey.
• Place the top slice of bread on, buttered side up.
• Grill the sandwiches on both sides.
• Pour the oil into a deep heavy-duty saucepan to fill it halfway.
• Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C), measuring the temperature on a deep-fat thermometer.
• Cut the sandwiches on a diagonal into thirds, to make 9 triangular pieces.
• Stir the batter.
• Dip each sandwich piece into the batter, thoroughly coating it.
• Fry the pieces 2 or 3 at a time, being careful not to overcrowd them in the pan.
• Cook them for about 3 minutes on each side, until they're nicely browned, and transfer to a paper towel to drain.
• Allow the oil to come back up to temperature before you fry the next batch of sandwiches.
• Place the sandwiches on a platter.
• Sift a very heavy layer of powdered sugar over them, and serve with a side of jam.

MONTE CRISTO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375^F.
• Pour milk in a microwaveable container and heat until hot.
• Whisk eggs in small bowl and add hot milk to eggs, blend.
• Cut French toast into 3/4 inch cubes; place in a large bowl.
• Pour egg mixture over bread cubes, toss gently, set aside.
• Combine ham, turkey, cheese and parsley in a bowl.
• Spray a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Layer half the french toast cubes with half the meat mixture in bottom of pan.
• Repeat.
• Let stand for at least 10 minutes (It can be held overnight.) Set at room temperature for a few minutes before baking-or bake a little longer if it's cold.
• Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown and set in center.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Slice strawberries.
• Combine strawberries with strawberry ice cream topping in a small bowl.
• Cut casserole into squares.
• Serve topped with strawberry mixture.

IL BISTRO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to the boil.
• Add the noodles and cook according to package directions.
• Drain well.
• When cool enough to handle, separate the noodles.
• Note: I much prefer to use fresh pasta sheets.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• When hot, add the onion and garlic; saute 2 minutes.
• Then add ground veal and beef; saute until almost cooked through.
• Drain well and put back on the stove.
• Add the oregano, rosemary, about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Saute until the meat is cooked through.
• Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, parsley, half-and-half, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; set aside.
• In a separate bowl, combine the mozzarella and fontina; set aside.
• You will need a large casserole dish for this recipe.
• A deep (at least 2 inches) 9-by-13-inch pan will work.
• Spread a thin layer of the marinara in the bottom.
• Put down a layer of noodles, overlapping slightly.
• Cover with half of the meat, half of the cheese mixture and about 1/2 cup marinara.
• Place another layer of pasta on top and repeat with the remaining meat and cheese.
• Spread all of the ricotta mixture on top.
• Add a final layer of pasta and spread the remaining marinara on top.
• Sprinkle top with the Parmigiano and Romano.
• Place dish on a baking sheet.
• Bake on center oven rack in a preheated 375-degree oven until golden on top and heated through in the center, about 25 to 35 minutes.
• Let cool 10 minutes before cutting.

IL POLLO MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together chicken broth, veal stock and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk together flour, herbs de Provence, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge each chicken breast in flour mixture, making sure to coat both sides.
• Coat a large ovenproof skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts to skillet and brown for 3 minutes on each side.
• Add wine and garlic; cook chicken for 3 more minutes. Pour stock mixture over chicken and place skillet in preheated oven. Roast chicken for 12 minutes or until just cooked through.
• Remove skillet from oven and transfer chicken to a large plate. Cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Place skillet over medium heat and bring sauce to a simmer. Cook until it has thickened slightly; about 10 minutes. Whisk in butter and season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste (sauce will thicken upon standing).
• To Serve, lay out chicken on plate, thinly slice chicken and top with sauce. Serve with asparagus, broccoli or other seasonal vegetables.