Kicked Up Monte Cristos Recipes

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.

ITALIAN MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the jam, mustard and rosemary. Lay out the slices of bread. Divide the mustard mixture evenly over the 8 slices of bread and spread almost to the edges. Put a slice of cheese on each piece of bread, followed by 2 slices of prosciutto. Put together 2 of the bread slices for each sandwich.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Add the heavy cream and salt and whisk to combine.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil to the pan and heat for 1 minute. Working with one sandwich at a time, dip both sides of the sandwich in the batter and place directly into the hot pan. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches. Cover with a lid and allow to cook until the first side is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the lid, flip each sandwich and continue to cook on the remaining side until golden brown and the cheese is melted, approximately another 4 minutes. (Or cook in batches if needed.)
• Sprinkle one side of each sandwich with powdered sugar and serve warm.

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.

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 CRISTOS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, salad dressing and Dijon mustard; spread over 1 side of each slice of bread. On 4 slices, layer the turkey, ham and Swiss cheese; top with remaining bread. In a shallow bowl, combine the eggs, cream and ground mustard. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture., On a griddle or large skillet, melt butter. Toast sandwiches over medium heat until bread is golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve with preserves.

KICKED UP MONTE CRISTOS!

Steps:

• Place 4 pieces of bread on work surface.
• Evenly divide gouda, ham and turkey between the bread slices.
• Top with remaining 4 slices of bread, making 4 sandwiches.
• You can cut the sandwiches in half, or leave them whole. Secure with toothpicks, if necessary.
• In a shallow dish combine eggs, milk and flour. Beat well.
• Heat oil to 375º in large skillet to about 1/2 inch depth.
• Carefully dip each sandwich into egg batter, coating both sides.
• Fry sandwiches, a few at a time, about 1 minute each side, until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Meanwhile, gently heat raspberry preserves with cayenne in microwave, or small pan.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve with warmed preserves for dipping.

SIMPLY BAKED MONTE CRISTOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F and grease a cookie sheet.
• Layout 4 slices of bread and top each with a slice of ham, a slice of cheese and the remaining bread to make 4 sandwiches.
• In a large bowl whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon sugar, and vanilla.
• Dip the sandwiches into the egg mixture, coating both sides, and place onto the greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes, turn sandwiches over, and continue baking 10 more minutes.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve with raspberry jam.