Bunny Pesto Cristos
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 2 to 4 servings (4 sandwiches)
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 4 servings
- Calories
- 703
- Total Fat
- 31
- Saturated Fat
- 12
- Carbohydrates
- 71
- Dietary Fiber
- 6
- Sugar
- 8
- Protein
- 35
- Cholesterol
- 228
- Sodium
- 1222
- Total: 35 min
- Active: 35 min
Ingredients
1/2 cup (136 grams; from a 6.5-ounce jar) store-bought pesto
4 to 5 ounces fresh spinach
Olive oil, to taste
8 slices (315 grams) sliced white sandwich bread (such as potato bread)
4 deli slices (4 ounces) low-moisture/part-skim mozzarella
4 deli slices (4 ounces) mild provolone
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus a few cracks
2 1/2 cups (163 grams) fine dry breadcrumbs
Neutral oil, for shallow frying
Directions
- In a food processor, combine the pesto and spinach for an extra vegetable-y pesto. Blend until smooth, adding more olive oil if necessary. Set aside.
- To build the sandwiches: Line up the sandwich bread on a baking sheet into 2 rows of 4. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto on each slice. On 4 of the slices, place 1 piece mozzarella in the middle of each, then 1 slice provolone. Finish building the sandwiches with the top pieces of bread, placing them on the cheese pesto-side facing down. Gently press down on each sandwich to lightly flatten. Cut each into a bunny shape with a 4-by-3-inch bunny-shaped cookie cutter.
- In a 9-inch square baking dish, vigorously whisk the eggs and milk until the yolks are fully incorporated into the whites to make a batter (you shouldn't see blotches of bright yellow yolks, rather a homogenous light yellow mixture). Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and whisk to combine. In a second 9-inch square baking dish, mix together the breadcrumbs, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and few cracks of black pepper.
- Heat a thin layer of neutral oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat (the oil should reach 1/4-inch up the side of the skillet). Line a baking sheet with a cooling rack.
- Meanwhile, carefully place the sandwiches, one at a time, into the egg batter: Coat a sandwich on all sides, allowing the excess egg to drip off before transferring to the breadcrumbs. Dredge the sandwich in the crumbs and transfer back to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 3 sandwiches.
- Using a metal spatula, gently place each sandwich into the hot oil. Fry until the crust is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then carefully flip the sandwich away from you to fry for another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the sandwiches to the cooling rack to drain of excess oil.