Monte Cristo sandwich
A Monte Cristo sandwich is a fried ham and cheese sandwich, a variation of the French croque-monsieur. In the 1930s–1960s, American cookbooks had recipes for this sandwich under such names as "French sandwich", "toasted ham sandwich", and "French toasted cheese sandwich". Swiss cheese is typically used.Description
In most regions, the sandwich is savory rather than sweet. Traditionally, it is dipped in its entirety in egg batter and pan-fried, though it may also be deep-fried. Regional variations may include sliced turkey. In some areas of the contiguous U.S. it is served grilled; in others, it is an open sandwich with only the bread battered and the assembled sandwich heated slightly under a grill or broiler. Some restaurants serve a variation that is batter-dipped and deep-fried. The Monte Cristo is sometimes covered in powdered sugar and served with maple syrup or preserves.
