If you’ve seen the TikTok tortilla fold hack, then the breakfast challenge TikTok sandwich should come as no surprise. Where the wrap hack has @cookingwithayeh showing users how to divvy up a tortilla into quadrants for the ultimate fold, @foodqood‘s breakfast challenge sandwich similarly shows how to make an egg-and-cheese-based sandwich in the pan, with a few clever flips.
While that’s certainly one way to make a decadent, cheesy breakfast sandwich, it isn’t the only way. Known as the more savoury cousin to French toast and little brother to the béchamel-and-Gruyere-based croque monsieur, the Monte Cristo similarly offers delicious crisp on the outside and gooey-melty cheese on the inside. While this recipe includes both confectioners sugar and sliced ham, feel free to forgo or substitute either ingredient. It’s quick to make and easy enough for novice home cooks and pro chefs, alike.
ingredients
directions
Add the eggs, 1 Tbsp water and ¼ tsp salt to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Spread each cheese slice with ¼ tsp of the Dijon and set the slices mustard-side-up on a flat surface. Put the confectioners’ sugar in a small fine-mesh sieve set over a plate.
Heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until melted and starting to brown around the edges of the pan. Add the egg mixture and swirl the pan to coat the bottom. Working quickly, dip 1 slice of the bread in the eggs, then flip the slice and place it so the top edge of the slice is near the edge of the pan furthest from you. Repeat with the remaining slice of bread, setting it across the pan from the first bread slice. The bottom edges of the two slices should be in a straight line, with eggs all around.
Continue to cook the eggs until they are completely set on the bottom and mostly cooked on the top, 1 to 2 minutes more. Slide a large nonstick spatula under the bread and flip the whole omelet in one single motion. Set the cheese mustard-side up on top of the omelet, covering the bread. Lay the ham on top of one of the slices of cheese. Using the spatula, fold one side of the omelet (but not the bread side) over the cheese and ham, then fold over the other side. Fold in half so the bread slices meet and form a sandwich.
Cook until the bread on the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is beginning to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat if the bread begins to darken too quickly before the cheese melts. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Set the sandwich on a plate and dust with the confectioners’ sugar.
