A Better Monte Cristo Sandwich

Contributed By: cre8tivemummy
Clean Eating Magazine Sept/Oct 2009

The Monte Cristo is usually assembled with ham, turkey or chicken and full-fat cheese sandwiched between two slices of white bread, then dipped in a beaten while egg and fried in butter. Better for your health and better on taste, our sandwich is piled high with sauteed turkey, pear, baby spinach and low-fat Swiss before being dipped in egg white and sauteed for a lighter, more nutritious fat-sparing meal.

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Total Preparation Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Ingredients: Chicken & Turkey
Actual Cooking Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Number of Servings: 4
Meal Type: Lunch

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Ingredients

1 lb Turkey breast scaloppini (thinly sliced turkey), cut into 4-oz pieces
2 tsp Olive oil, divided
1 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Egg whites
2 tbsp Skim milk
Cayenne pepper, to taste
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
8 slices Whole-grain bread
1 cup Baby spinach leaves
1 Pear, thinly sliced
4 1-oz Slices low-fat Swiss cheese

Preparation

1. In a small bowl, season turkey with 1 tsp oil, oregano, salt and black pepper.

2. Heat a nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey and saute until light golden at edges and fully cooked throughout, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. In a shallow dish, whisk together egg whites and milk. Season with salt, black pepper and cayenne. Set aside.

4. Spread about 1 tsp (adjust to taste) Dijon mustard on 1 side of each bread slice and place, Dijon-side-up, onto a flat work surface. Layer equal parts spinach, pear and turkey onto 4 slices of bread. Top each stack with 1 slice cheese and another slice of bread, Dijon-side-down, pressing gently.

5. In a medium nonstick saute pan, heat remaining tsp oil over medium heat.

6. Using a spatula, carefully dip 1 side of a sandwich into egg mixture (egg mixture should go about halfway up the bread slice when immersed). With your hand on the top of the sandwich and spatula underneath, carefully flip to immerse the other side in egg, then gently transfer to hot pan. Saute sandwich, turning once, until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes total. Remove from pan. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Cut sandwiches in half and serve immediately.