American · Lunch

Monte Cristo

A sandwich of ham, turkey and Swiss cheese dipped in egg batter, pan-fried until golden, dusted with icing sugar and served with raspberry jam. Sweet, salty and rich.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 30 min total Serves 2 servings Medium
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How to Make Monte Cristo

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  1. Spread 2 slices of bread with the mustard. Layer each with a slice of cheese, 2 slices of ham, 2 slices of turkey and a second slice of cheese, and top with the other bread. Press down firmly.

  2. Whisk the eggs, milk and salt together in a shallow dish.

  3. Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture for about 20 seconds on each side, until it has soaked in but is not falling apart.

  4. Melt half of the butter in a large frying pan over medium-low heat and cook one sandwich for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until deep golden and the cheese has melted. Repeat with the rest of the butter and the second sandwich.

  5. Cut each sandwich in half, dust with icing sugar, and serve at once with the raspberry jam.

Tips for Making Monte Cristo

  • Use soft white bread and dip it briefly. It soaks up the egg without collapsing, and a thick or stale slice would need longer.
  • Cook the sandwiches over medium-low heat. High heat browns the outside before the cheese melts, and gentle heat cooks them through.
  • Serve them straight away with the jam. The crust is crisp for only a few minutes, and the sweet, tart jam is the point of the dish.

What to Serve with Monte Cristo

  • Raspberry jam
  • Dill pickles
  • Green salad

Storing & Reheating Monte Cristo

Best eaten straight from the pan. The assembled, un-dipped sandwiches can be kept wrapped in the fridge for up to 1 day and dipped and fried when needed.

Monte Cristo FAQ: Common Questions

How long does Monte Cristo take to make?

About 30 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 2.

What are the key tips for making Monte Cristo?

Use soft white bread and dip it briefly. It soaks up the egg without collapsing, and a thick or stale slice would need longer. Cook the sandwiches over medium-low heat. High heat browns the outside before the cheese melts, and gentle heat cooks them through. Serve them straight away with the jam. The crust is crisp for only a few minutes, and the sweet, tart jam is the point of the dish.

What should I serve with Monte Cristo?

Raspberry jam; Dill pickles; Green salad.

Is Monte Cristo suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is high-protein. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Monte Cristo?

About 671 kcal per serving, with 42 g protein, 56 g carbohydrate and 31 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Monte Cristo Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

671Calories
42gProtein
56gCarbs
31gFat
2gFibre
27gSugar
1200mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.