Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwich

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 slices egg bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick (challah works well)
• 8 thin slices ham
• 8 thin slices turkey
• 8 thin slices swiss cheese
• 3 cups canola oil
• confectioners' sugar
• blackberry preserves

Recipe

• 1 line a cookie sheet with paper towels; set aside.
• 2 whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl. add flour, salt, and baking powder and whisk thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl.
• 3 on one slice of bread, arrange 2 slices of ham, turkey, and cheese, covering the bread evenly. place another slice of bread on top and slice each sandwich in half diagonally.
• 4 heat oil to between 365 degrees f and 375 degrees f in a 10-inch pan. do not let the oil reach a higher temperature than this; if the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down. dip half of the sandwich into the batter, allowing excess to drain, and very carefully place into the oil.
• 5 repeat with the other sandwich half. cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. place the cooked sandwich on the prepared cookie sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. repeat with the other three sandwiches.
• 6 cook one at a time, and allow the oil to reach the desired temperature between each.
• 7 sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.