Monte Cristo sandwich
American fried ham and cheese sandwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Monte Cristo sandwich is a ham and cheese sandwich dipped in egg and pan-fried. It is a variation of the French croque monsieur.
History
The first documented reference to a "Monte Cristo Sandwich" was in an American restaurant industry publication in 1923,[1] despite the common claim that it was developed in the 1960s in Southern California.[citation needed] From the 1930s to the 1960s, American cookbooks commonly had recipes for similar croque monsieur variants, under such names as "French sandwich", "toasted ham sandwich", and "French toasted cheese sandwich".[2] It was especially popular in southern California, and became more broadly popular after the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland began serving it.[3]
Description
The sandwich can either be savory or a mixture of savory and sweet. In its most basic form, it is dipped in beaten egg and pan-fried, though it may also be deep-fried in beer or pancake batter.[4][5] Regional variations[2][6] may include sliced turkey or caramelized onions. Some variants are served grilled; in others, it is served as an open sandwich, with only the bread egg-dipped and pan fried. In such cases, the fully assembled sandwich is then usually heated slightly under a grill or broiler.[2] In sweeter versions, it is often covered in powdered sugar and served with maple syrup or preserves.
