Chef John's Monte Cristo Benedict

4.4
(137)

Imagine the best French toast you've ever had combined with the best ham and cheese sandwich you've ever had, topped with perfectly poached eggs, and you have Chef John's Monte Cristo Benedict. You don't need any Hollandaise because the poached egg yolks are the sauce.

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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
4
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 2 large eggs

  • ¼ cup heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon white sugar

  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1 pinch kosher salt

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

  • 4 thick slices day-old French bread

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 8 thin slices cooked ham

  • 4 slices Cheddar cheese

  • 4 slices Havarti cheese

  • 8 poached eggs

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, or to taste

  • 1 pinch kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  2. Whisk 2 eggs, cream, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, 1 pinch salt, and 1 pinch cayenne pepper together in a bowl until thoroughly combined.

  3. Lay bread slices, one at a time, into egg mixture; let bread absorb mixture. Flip bread slices; let absorb mixture until almost all has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.

  4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat; add butter and let melt. Add bread slices; cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast to a baking sheet.

  5. Add ham slices to the skillet; cook until begins to brown, about 1 minute per side.

  6. Place 1 slice Cheddar cheese on 1 slice French toast, top with 2 slices ham, and top ham with 1 slice Havarti cheese.

  7. Bake in the preheated oven until French toast slices are no longer wet, batter is set, and cheeses have melted and begun to brown, about 20 minutes.

  8. Place sandwiches on serving plates; top each with 2 poached eggs and chives. Season with 1 pinch salt and 1 pinch cayenne pepper.

Tips

See Chef John's technique to turn out perfectly poached eggs every time.

502 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

651 Calories
44g Fat
26g Carbs
38g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 651
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 44g 57%
Saturated Fat 23g 116%
Cholesterol 572mg 191%
Sodium 1475mg 64%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 38g 76%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 458mg 35%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 347mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.