As I mentioned last week, I was challenged recently by the people from The Laughing Cow to come up with some recipes for the new year using their Laughing Cow Extra Light Spreadable Cheese, and leftovers. Last week I showed you some delicious Hot Ham and Cheese Rolls and today I am showing you a recipe I made for Turkey Monte Cristos, which you can not only make using leftovers (turkey and cranberry sauce) but which are also quite healthy in comparison to the original version!
A Monte Cristo sandwich is normally made with ham(or turkey) and cheese, dipped into an egg batter and then either pan or deep fried until crisp. I also usually involves jam of some sort and is dusted with icing sugar prior to serving. Emmenthal or Gruyere Cheese are normally the type of cheese used. It's sort of like a deep fried Croque Monsieur . . .
Mine is not as calorie or fat laden. Using lean sliced turkey and no butter . . . a simple layer of leftover cranberry sauce on one slice of bread and a triangle of Laughing Cow Extra Light Spreadable Cheese spread on the other slice of bread, at only 19 calories per triangle, means that you have lots of flavor but not lots of fat.
The sandwiches are dipped in a mix of skim milk and beaten egg . . . allowing it to soak into the bread, and then they are baked on a baking sheet which has been sprayed with low fat cooking spray and baked . . . eliminating all of the fat and calories associated with either pan frying or deep frying. The end result is quite delicious and satisfying . . . I accompanied them with a few baked potato chips. Again a healthier and lower fat option.
*Turkey Monte Cristos*Serves 4Printable Recipe
All the flavours of a traditional Monte Cristo Sandwich but with far less calories and fat than one would expect!
low fat cooking spray6 large free range eggs, beaten1 1/4 cups skim milkfine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste1/4 tsp each rubbed sage, rubbed thyme, rubbed parsley flakes, rubbed dried rosemary4 dessert spoons leftover cranberry sauce12 ounces thinly sliced roast turkey4 triangles Laughing Cow Extra Light cheese spread8 thick slices of white sandwich bread
Preheat the oven to 200*X/400*F/ gas mark 5. Line a baking sheet with baking paper or foil. Spritz with low fat cooking spray. Set aside.
Beat the eggs and milk together with the salt, pepper and herbs in a large shallow dish. Set aside.Lay the sliced of bread out on the counter. Spread four of them with the cranberry sauce and top each with 1/4 of the turkey slices. Spread the other four slices of bread each with one of the triangles of Laughing Cow Extra Light Cheese Spread. Place the cheese spread slices of bread on top of the turkey topped slices of bread, cheese side towards the turkey side. Press gently to adhere. Give the eggs another beat and then carefully transfer the sandwiches to the egg mixture and let them soak on first one side and then the other, for approximately one minute per side and turning carefully with a spatula to soak the other side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the heated oven for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for 7 minutes more, respraying the pan as you flip. They will be golden brown on both sides when done. Let rest for about 5 minutes prior to serving.
Doesn't that look delicious? One doesn't have to feel too guilty in indulging either.
Laughing Cow Extra Light is the "lightest of the lightest" of The Laughing Cow triangles. With only 2% fat and at 19 calories per triangle, you can feel free to enjoy its cheesy taste without lots and lots of guilt! They are pretty good even eaten on their own. Especially handy this time of year when we are all wanting to shift a bit of those extra pounds we put on over the holidays!
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