Monte Cristo Sandwich

THE BEST SANDWICH ON EARTH?

The Monte Cristo

Though this sandwich tends to vary from restaurant to restaurant, the basic sandwich is two slices of white bread containing ham, turkey, or chicken, and a slice of cheese are dipped in a beaten egg batter or simply a beaten egg and fried in butter. A classic Monte Cristo sandwich should come with a side of jelly to dip it in.

Most food historian generally think that the Monte Cristo sandwich is a variation of a French dish called Croque Monsieur. This original grilled cheese sandwich consisted of Gruyere cheese and lean ham between two slices of crust-less bread, fried in clarified butter. It was originally served in 1910 in a Paris cafe. This sandwich is still a popular snack or casual meal throughout France and Switzerland in most bars and cafes. It is usually made in a special sandwich grilling iron consisting of two hinged metal plates, each with two shell-shaped indentations. At most Paris cafes, the Croque Monsieur is no longer prepared as a square sandwich but rather as a one-sided tartine made with a large single slice of bread from a round loaf.

Many American cookbooks published in the 1930s to1960s featured this sandwich under different names such as French Sandwich, Toasted Ham Sandwich, and French Toasted Cheese Sandwich. Although there are no existing documents to support this, it is felt that the Monte Cristo Sandwich was first served in southern California in the 1950s. Disneyland in Anaheim, California also contributed to the trend of eating this sandwich. In 1966, it appeared on their menu of the Blue Bayou and Tahitian Terrace restaurants in New Orleans’s Square in Disneyland and has continued to be a popular menu item to this day.

THE MONTE CRISTO
Restaurants vary from place to place about exactly how this is cooked, whether on a flat top grill or in a deep-fat fryer. The latter is much quicker but also more greasy, and most people don't have the machinery in their kitchens. This preparation method takes almost twice as long to make, but it's healthier and naturally more flavorful. Any meal you make just doesn't get any better than when you make a Monte Cristo sandwich. Serves 2.

1 egg
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 slices egg bread (challah works well), sliced 1/2-inch thick
8 thin slices ham
8 thin slices turkey
8 thin slices Swiss cheese
1 TBS Dijon or grainy mustard (optional)
3 cups canola oil
Confectioners sugar
Blackberry preserves (or any preserve)

Line a cookie sheet with paper towels; set aside. Whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and whisk thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl. On one slice of bread, arrange 2 slices of ham, turkey, and cheese, covering the bread evenly. Place another slice of bread on top and slice each sandwich in half diagonally. Heat oil to between 365 degrees F and 375 degrees F in a 10-inch pan. Do not let the oil reach a higher temperature than this; if the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down. Dip half of the sandwich into the batter, allowing excess to drain, and very carefully place into the oil. Repeat with the other sandwich half. Cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Place the cooked sandwich on the prepared cookie sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. Repeat with the other three sandwiches. Cook one at a time, and allow the oil to reach the desired temperature between each. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.