Monte Cristo Appetizers

Monte Cristo Appetizers are a fried appetizer recipe and a fun new way to eat everyone's favorite sweet and savory sandwich, but in appetizer form!

I love a good Monte Cristo sandwich and always have. It is because of that love I've come up with this new twist on the classic sandwich.

These delectable little Monte Cristo Appetizers will be a surefire hit with your family and friends whenever you serve them! They're crunchy, sweet, savory, and completely addicting!

The ingredient list:

• turkey Slices
• ham Slices
• Swiss cheese slices
• raspberry jam
• 10" flour tortillas
• flour
• sugar
• baking powder
• corn starch
• milk
• salt 
• confectioners sugar
• oil for frying (grapeseed, peanut, avocado, vegetable or canola)
• Dijon mustard

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• large deep-sided skillet or tabletop fryer
• strainer spoon or cooking spider
• offset spatula
• baking sheet with a rack
• serrated knife
• large bowl
• measuring cups and spoons
• deep-fry thermometer
• whisk
• confectioners sugar duster
• serving platter

Can Monte Cristo appetizer roll-ups be made in advance?

• YES! You'll notice in the video that after the roll ups have been fried, they can be reheated on a rack in the oven. Using a rack will keep the roll-ups crispy and crunchy on all sides.

How many appetizers does this recipe make?

• As written, this recipe makes approximately 24 Monte Cristo Roll-Ups.
• However, this recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled if needed.

What is the best oil for frying, and what is the proper temperature for the oil?

• A good rule of thumb for frying is the lighter the color oil, the higher the smoke point, and the better for frying.
• My preferred oil is peanut oil, but grapeseed comes in a close second.
• The best temperature for frying is between 350-375 degrees.

What if I don't have a thermometer to test the oil temperature? What then?

• Here's a handy trick; when heating oil for frying if you don't have access to a thermometer, dip the handle tip of a wooden spoon into the hot oil. If lots of tiny bubbles immediately form around the handle of the spoon (much like champagne bubbles) your oil is hot and ready to fry. 
• If the bubbles take long to form (longer than 1-2 seconds), the oil is not hot enough and needs more time.

Can I reuse the oil after frying?

• I do. I use a funnel to funnel the oil back into the original container and then I reuse it for 2 or three more fryings.
• However, if I've fried fish or seafood with a particular oil I would only reuse that oil for another fish or seafood dish, as I wouldn't want my Monte Cristo Roll-Ups (or donuts, for example) to taste like fish or seafood.
• After two or three fryings, I always discard the oil and start with fresh oil for the next fried recipe.

What in the world is sandwich paste?

• Gotcha! It's a mixture of flour and water. It helps to seal the tortilla edges so the fillings stay inside.

Looking for additional fun fried foods?

• Mini Long Johns for Mardi Gras (pictured below)

• Scrambled Egg Rolls (pictured below)

• Homemade Fried Tilapia (pictured below)

When you want faux-fried snack or party appetizer that everyone loves that you can "fry" in an oven or air fryer, reach for this recipe for Ham and Cheese Eggrolls (pictured below).

• Monte Cristo Tortilla Roll-Up Appetizers (pictured below) THIS IS THE PLACE

Printable Recipe Card

Monte Cristo Appetizers

Renee Goerger

Monte Cristo Appetizers are a fun new way to eat everyone's favorite fried, sweet and savory sandwich, only in appetizer form!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

freezing time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, fried foods

Cuisine American

Servings 24 servings

Calories 506 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  large high-sided skillet
• ▢
  tabletop fryer optional
• ▢
  large slotted spoon optional
• ▢
  cooking spider optional
• ▢
  Mixing Bowls
• ▢
  baking sheet with rack
• ▢
  paper towels
• ▢
  measuring cups and spoons
• ▢
  liquid measuring cup
• ▢
  whisk
• ▢
  sugar shaker optional
• ▢
  instant read thermometer
• ▢
  kitchen funnel optional for saving the oil in its original container once cooled
• ▢
  chef's knife
• ▢
  cutting board
• ▢
  Offset spatula optional
• ▢
  5 inch Serrated Knife

Ingredients

  

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For the tortilla rollups:

• ▢ 3 12 inch flour tortillas
• ▢ 8 ounces turkey slices
• ▢ 8 ounces ham slices
• ▢ 8 ounces Swiss cheese slices
• ▢ 3 tablespoons raspberry jam

For the batter:

• ▢ ⅔ cup flour
• ▢ 1 ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ pinch salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon corn starch
• ▢ 1 tablespoon sugar
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ ⅔ cup milk

For the sandwich glue:

• ▢ 2 tablespoons flour
• ▢ 1 tablespoon water
• ▢ 1 quart peanut oil or other light colored oil

For the dipping sauce:

• ▢ ¼ cup raspberry jam
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

To garnish:

• ▢ 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar

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Instructions

 

• Mix together the sandwich glue and set aside.
• Mix together the dipping sauce ingredients and refrigerate.

To make the batter:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, and corn starch.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg and milk.
• Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the egg and milk mixture until smooth. Set aside. The batter with thicken slightly.

To make the tortilla rollups:

• Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of the jam evenly onto each of the tortillas, making sure to leave a border around each tortilla, and at the top for the sandwich glue.
• Evenly divide and layer the turkey, ham, and cheese at the bottom of each tortilla.
• Spread a bit of the sandwich glue on the top of the tortillas and carefully roll each of the Monte Cristo tortillas tightly, pressing at seams to glue shut.
• Place the tortilla logs on a baking sheet and freeze for 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, carefully heat the oil to a temperature of 350 - 375 degrees.
• Remove the tortilla logs from the freezer. Trim the edges and discard.
• Use a serrated knife to slice each tortilla log into pinwheels (approximately 8 slices per log).
• Dip each Monte Cristo into the batter (allowing the excess to drip off), and carefully submerge them into the hot oil.
• Carefully fry each roll-up until golden on both sides (approximately 45 seconds, per side).
• Remove the fried roll-ups to drain on paper towels and season with salt if desired.
• Continue the process with the remaining roll-ups.

To reheat and keep warm:

• Line a baking sheet with a wire rack and add the Monte Cristo appetizer rollups. Bake or keep warm in a low oven (or a 350-degree oven if reheating) until the remainder of the appetizers are complete.
• Sprinkle the Monte Cristo appetizers with confectioners sugar before serving.
• Serve hot with the raspberry Dijon dipping sauce.

Video

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Leftovers may be frozen in an airtight freezer container for up to 2 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat (uncovered) in the oven or air fryer until hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 506kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 8gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 335mgPotassium: 138mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 97IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 1mg

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's appetizer recipe for Monte Cristo roll-ups as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!

Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!