Monte Cristo Recipe

This Monte Cristo recipe straddles the divide between sweet and savoury as well as breakfast and dinner. An eggy grilled ham and cheese with mustard and maple syrup can't be defined as anything but awesome.

*This post is kindly sponsored by Karibe. Sponsorship allows me to maintain my blog and continue to create new free content for you. All opinions are my own.

I have a definite sweet tooth, so a hint of sweetness, even with the most savoury of dishes, is almost always welcome on my plate. The reverse is true as well, where a good pinch of salt can transform something sweet into something truly delicious. The sweet and savoury polarity is a spiral of deliciousness that I love to experiment with.

And as it is with food, so it often is with life. Rarely is a situation all good or all bad. So often, there's something that just sucks about something that makes you feel really good, or a moment that makes you smile even in the worst situation. As witches, we learn to embrace the entire spectrum of life.

What makes this Monte Cristo recipe so awesome?

On paper, a Monte Cristo Sandwich shouldn't work. It's a ham and cheese sandwich with mustard and mayo, which is great all on its own, but then we dip it in an egg and milk mixture like French Toast and grill it in a hot skillet until it's golden and eggy on the outside and melting in the middle. That sounds pretty tasty, right?

But then you have the option to lean more into the French Toast vibes and pour some deep and sweet maple syrup over the whole situation. And that's where I lose people. I was unsure myself the first time I tried it. Trust me, it's a very very very good thing. If you wanted to take it right over the top, you could go for this Maple Syrup with Bacon. These sandwiches are quick and easy to make and a total treat for brunch.

Choosing the right tools

Even the simplest of recipes can quickly become stressful when you don't have the right tools. This is why I love my knives set and utensil set from Karibe. I always have what I need on hand, so I barely even have to think about cooking something as simple as this. From chopping cheese to flipping a grilled sandwich, to whisking eggs, my tools are right at my fingertips.

Karibe is a black-owned kitchenware company run by genuinely delightful human beings. They've put thought and care into crafting all their products to make sure I can feel confident in the kitchen. I know I'm channeling my love into my food, and the tools I'm using are a carefully crafted conduit for that energy.

Ingredients for a Monte Cristo Sandwich

A Monte Cristo is just a ham sandwich, so the ingredients are pretty basic, but obviously the quality of the dish depends more on the quality of the ingredients when you're working with just a few key flavors and a simple recipe. Here's what you'll need.

• Bread - Use your favorite sandwich bread. I like a nice honey wheat.
• Mustard and mayonnaise - Dijon or yellow mustard are both fine. Just use what you have and what you like.
• Ham - I'd go for a slightly thicker and less watery deli ham here.
• Swiss cheese - Sliced or grated Emmental or Gruyere are also good.
• Eggs and milk - For dipping your sandwiches in
• Salt and pepper - To season the eggs.
• Powdered sugar and maple syrup - Optional but totally awesome toppings.

For information on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Tips for this recipe

Like I said, this is a super simple recipe. If you're making a lot of sandwiches, you could get some helpers in to make an assembly line. Spread all your bread with mustard and mayo first, then add the cheese and ham. Once you've got all your sandwiches lined up, you're ready to fry these babies up.

In a wide shallow dish, beat your eggs with a splash of milk, as well as salt and pepper. I like to use an 8x8 inch baking pan for this. Then make sure your skillet is good and hot before you start dipping your sandwiches. I don't like to let them soak for too long, just a few seconds per side, then into the hot non-stick skillet. If you're not using a non-stick skillet, you may want to add some butter or oil to keep things from sticking.

These only take about three to five minutes per side over medium heat. You don't want burnt eggs. The exterior should be golden brown, and the cheese should be melty. Once your sandwiches are cooked, transfer them to a cutting board to cut each one in half before plating.

I just put the powdered sugar and syrup on the table so people have the option, but do try at least one bite with the maple syrup. It's awesome.

FAQ

Life is better with a little contrast. Try this Monte Cristo recipe, and you'll see what I mean. It's pretty awesome.

Looking for more awesome sandwich recipes? Try a Brie Prosciutto & Fig Jam Grilled Cheese or a Belgian Mitraillette.

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Recipe slightly adapted from She Wears Many Hats.