Turkey and Cherry Monte Cristo Sandwich
When the skies are grey and the weather is blustery comfort food is an absolute must. For me, a cozy comfort meal is this Turkey and Cherry Monte Cristo sandwich. I constantly crave the juxtaposition of savoury and sweet, so it’s no wonder if there is turkey or ham in the fridge I’m making a Monte Cristo.
Where I grew up the Monte Cristo is a typical diner food. An item that screams approachable indulgence. The outside was crisp, the inside soft and cheesy with a snow storm of icing sugar on top that reached the edges of the plate. It was served with a sticky pot of table syrup, absolutely not to be confused with maple syrup. As a nostalgia food lover, I always come back to the Monte Cristo, which I will say my husband appreciates a lot more than the Uncle Ben’s Broccoli and Cheese Rice.
Looking for something to go with your Turkey and Cherry Monte Cristo? Try this Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Crispy Goat Cheese!
What even is a Monte Cristo sandwich?
A classic Monte Cristo sandwich is a sandwich that’s a more casual take on the classic Croque Monsieur, a ham and cheese that’s sometimes dipped in bread and topped with cheese. Where the Croque Monsuir is wholly savoury the Monte Cristo is often a sweet and savoury dream, sometimes served with jam or syrup and dusted with icing sugar.
This indulgent comfort classic is a perfect weeknight meal because you could assemble the sandwiches ahead of time and they only take a few minutes to cook in a frying pan!
Grocery List
Make it your own!
Don’t have cherry jam on hand? No worries! Apricot, fig, or blueberry would also be great options!
No swiss? That’s okay! You could use gruyere, provolone or a pizza mozzarella!
Not a turkey fan? Mix it up with some ham or bacon!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does it need to be sourdough?
Absolutely not. I am a firm believer that we should cook with what we already have. If what you have on hand is white bread or whole wheat absolutely do not make a special trip. Now if all you have on hand is a loaf of garlic bread I would probably take a pass. Actually I would realistically just skip the jam, I bet that would make a banger of a sanger.
What if I don’t like cherry jam?
No need to fret, this sandwich would be great with raspberry, blueberry, fig, apricot or even red pepper jelly!
Can I make this in advance?
I know we are all busy, but I am going to be real with you. This sandwich is best eaten right away. BUT you can absolutely assemble the sandwiches in the morning and then do the quick egg dip right before you cook them!
Turkey and Cherry Monte Cristo Sandwich
Equipment
- Shallow Dish
- Knife
- Frying Pan
- Spatula
- Mesh Seive Optional
Ingredients
- 2 Slices Sourdough Bread
- 1-2 Tbsp Your Favourite Jam (Raspberry, cherry or apricot are great options)
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- Cooked Turkey or Ham, or Both (This is not a serious sandwich, use as much as you want of whatever you want)
- 1/2 Cup Shredded Swiss Cheese
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Butter
- Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Crack the egg into a shallow dish, add one teaspoon of water and beat with a fork.
- Preheat a medium sized pan over medium heat.
- Meanwhile, assemble the sandwich. Spread one of the slices of bread with jam and top with turkey or ham (or both!) and Swiss cheese. Spread the Dijon on the other slice of bread and close the sandwich with the mustard side down.
- Dip both sides of the sandwich in the egg mixture.
- Add the butter to the preheated pan and use a spatula to coat the surface evenly. Transfer the sandwich to the pan and cook until golden then flip and repeat on the second side.
- Use a fine mesh sieve to sprinkle powdered sugar on top and enjoy!
