Description
A decadent Vegan Monte Cristo sandwich featuring homemade vegan ham, melted vegan cheese, and a rich batter that mimics the classic custardy texture, pan-fried to a golden brown and served dusted with powdered sugar and raspberry preserves for a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegan Deli Ham Batter
- 1/2 cup plant milk
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp vegan butter, melted
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Dash of cinnamon
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Sandwich Assembly
- 5 – 6 vegan ham slices per sandwich
- 1 – 2 vegan cheese slices per sandwich
- 1 – 2 tbsp vegan mayo per sandwich
- Dijon mustard to taste
- Sourdough or thick cut white bread slices
- 1 tbsp vegan butter (for frying)
Toppings
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Raspberry preserves for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegan Deli Ham batter: In a shallow bowl or high-rimmed plate, combine the plant milk, apple cider vinegar, and melted vegan butter. Whisk these ingredients together. In a separate smaller bowl, place 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Take about 3-4 tablespoons of the plant milk mixture and whisk it into the cornstarch until smooth, then return this mixture to the rest of the plant milk batter. Whisk in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and brown sugar thoroughly to create a smooth, custard-like batter.
- Assemble the sandwich: Spread vegan mayo on one slice of bread and Dijon mustard on the other. Optionally, melt vegan cheese by adding a small amount of water to a heated non-stick pan and placing the cheese in it; allow the steam to gently melt the cheese without sticking, then use a spatula to lift it. Place the vegan ham slices and optional melted cheese on the bread, then close the sandwich.
- Warm the vegan ham (optional): Heat the vegan ham slices in a pan over medium heat just until warmed through to enhance texture and flavor.
- Prepare to cook the sandwich: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegan butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat until melted and the pan is hot. Quickly dunk the sandwich in the batter on both sides. For a softer, more custardy texture, dunk longer.
- Cook the sandwich: Place the batter-dipped sandwich onto the heated pan. Cook each side until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side, flipping carefully. Once both sides are browned and cooked through, remove from heat.
- Serve: Dust the sandwich with powdered sugar. Cut into triangles or quarters. Serve with raspberry preserves for dipping, and enjoy the sweet and savory combination.
Notes
- Melting vegan cheese is optional as not all vegan cheeses melt well; steaming with water in a pan helps it melt gently.
- Warming the vegan ham slices before assembling adds to the sandwich’s flavor and texture.
- Adjust the dunking time in batter to control bread softness; longer dunk times make a custard-like texture.
- Use sourdough or thick-cut white bread for best results as they hold the batter and fillings well during cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
