Bennigan's Monte Cristo Sandwich - beragampengetahuan Recipes - Beragampengetahuan

Bennigan’s Monte Cristo Sandwich – talk about guiding the lilly! This deep-fried triple-decker sandwich is served with red raspberry preserves.

Copycat Bennigan's Monte Cristo sandwich slices on a wood board.

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Contents

Monte Cristo Sandwich Origin

It is thought that the Monte Cristo sandwich was a variation of the classic French Croque Monsieur, which has a lot of variations of its own.

It was Disney that made it popular in the USA by serving it in restaurants at Disneyland Anaheim in the 1960s. From there, it spread across the land changing according to local tastes along the way.

Monte Cristo Sandwich recipes have evolved like barbecue sauce. They change according to where you are in the USA and the batter recipe is a tightly kept secret.

In many regions though, the Monte Cristo is a savory sandwich of fried ham and cheese.

Most often, it is dipped in its entirety in a batter and either pan-fried in butter or deep-fried in oil or fat. Other variations make the sandwich more sweet than savory. And still, others change out the ham for sliced turkey.

In some parts of the US, it is a closed, grilled sandwich. In others, it is an open sandwich with only the bread battered and fried, then assembled as a sandwich before being heated slightly under a broiler.

What Makes the Bennigan’s Monte Cristo Sandwich So Good?

You’ve probably had French toast stuffed with jam or chocolate, but what about savory ingredients? A classic Monte Cristo is nothing more than French toast filled with turkey, ham, American and Swiss cheeses. It is sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with preserves.

The Monte Cristo sandwich recipe was developed sometime in the early 1900s as a derivative of the more complex Croque Monsieur, a popular cafe meal in France. It is the ultimate combination of sweet and savory ingredients that is perfect for brunch or a light meal any time of day.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Bennigan’s Restaurant version turns the traditional sandwich into a triple-decker and adds turkey and American cheese, making it even more filling for hearty appetites. It is an easy-to-cook sandwich that’s uniquely delicious, but maybe just as important, it can impress your guests on any occasion.

Bennigan’s Monte Cristo Sandwich Ingredients

To assemble the sandwich, you’ll need:

Honey wheat bread
Deli turkey
Deli ham
American cheese
Swiss cheese

Feel free to replace the wheat bread with other sweet or savory breads. Both brioche and sourdough are good options.

The classic Monte Cristo sandwich recipe calls for Gruyère cheese and no American cheese, so you may want to swap the cheese selection based on what you prefer.

For the egg batter, you’ll need:

Egg
Water
Salt
Sugar
All-purpose flour
Baking powder

To fry a Monte Cristo, you’ll need

Copycat Bennigan's Monte Cristo sandwich ingredients on a marble surface.

How to Make a Monte Cristo

To assemble the sandwich:

Place a slice of turkey and a slice of Swiss cheese on a piece of wheat bread.
Top with another slice of bread. Add a slice of ham and American cheese, then cover with a third piece of bread. If you want, secure the sandwich with a wooden toothpick in each corner. Set the assembled sandwich to the side and finish making all the sandwiches.

To fry the Monte Cristo sandwich

Whisk together the egg and water in a large shallow container, like a pie tin or casserole dish. Add the salt, sugar, AP flour, and baking powder and whisk until smooth. Set aside for later.
Warm the butter or vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
While the skillet is heating up, dip both sides of a sandwich in the egg batter and place in the skillet. Repeat if there is room in the skillet for another sandwich.
Cook the sandwiches until the cheese melts and the bread is golden brown, about three minutes per side. Place the cooked sandwiches on a baking tray, cover with aluminum foil, and place in a WARM oven.
Add more butter or oil to the skillet and cook any remaining sandwiches.

To serve the sandwiches:

Remove the toothpicks from all corners of the sandwich.
For a fancier presentation, cut off the crusts of the bread and slice the sandwich in half diagonally.

Collage of making copycat Bennigan's Monte Cristo sandwich.

Special Equipment You Might Need

You can prepare this Monte Cristo sandwich recipe with basic kitchen equipment. You only need a skillet and a shallow container for dipping the sandwiches.

What to Serve Bennigan’s Monte Cristo Sandwich With

Traditionally, the de rigor side for a Monte Cristo was a small bowl of jelly for dipping, but if the idea of ham, turkey, cheese, and jelly doesn’t sound too great, there are other options. Here are some suggestions you may want to try:

Add a sprinkling of powdered sugar. The main characteristic of a Monte Cristo sandwich is the balance of sweet and salty flavors. Adding a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top heightens the contrast, especially if you aren’t using jam.
Coffee. A cafe au lait or French press coffee may be the more traditionally appropriate beverage for pairing with a Monte Cristo. However, if you prefer something stronger, a cappuccino or espresso would work just as well.
Fruit salad. A bowl of fresh fruit pairs well with this sandwich. Mixed berries or sliced melons are both excellent choices. Stay away from citrus since the tartness can be too intense.

Copycat Bennigan's Monte Cristo sandwich, fries, and pickle slices on a plate.

How to Store Monte Cristo Sandwiches

Save yourself a lot of time in the morning and cook these sandwiches the night before. They will reheat beautifully in the morning, and you’ll be able to feed a large group all at once.

Just prepare and cook the sandwiches per the recipe instructions and allow them to cool completely. Place a paper towel on the bottom of an airtight container and lay the sandwiches on top. Cover with more paper towels and the lid. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Do not freeze them.

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Monte Cristo Sandwiches

You can reheat multiple sandwiches hands-free in the oven:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Lay the sandwiches on a baking tray.
Warm in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese melts. Flip the sandwiches halfway through the cooking time.

Copycat Bennigan's Monte Cristo sandwich with raspberry jam.

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