From Basic Grilled Cheese To Gourmet Grilled Cheese
And now that you know what to have WITH grilled cheese, lets think about what to put IN your grilled cheese. And in our opinion, this is where the fun begins. You can literally turn a basic grilled cheese into a delectable gourmet dish by carefully choosing add-ins. Unleash your creativity and see what you come up with. The skys the limit! Wed love to hear your ideas in the comments below.Are you in the mood for a savory grilled cheese, something salty, added sweetness or a healthy combination? Here is our short list of what to put IN your grilled cheese sandwich. And remember, the skys the limit!
Summer Tomato Mozzarella And Basil Panini With Balsamic Syrup
Crusty Cuban bread is perfectly complemented with creamy mozzarella and a slice of juicy tomato. Serve with sweet potato chips or a simple green salad.
Each element of this dish contributes unique elements. Crispy and chewy texture come from the grilled pita tanginess and cooling creaminess from the goat cheese sweet, juicy freshness from the tomato and earthy smoky flavors and meaty texture from the portobellos. It’s a great summer combination with a simple fruit salad made from whatever you have on hand.
What Can You Do With Leftover Grilled Cheese
Turning Leftover Grilled Cheese Into Something New
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Pickled Cucumbers: Another Classic
Oh, the memories of a pickled cucumber served with this classic meal!
Imagine when you were sitting in the diner in a red booth with your parents for lunch.
The waitress finally brought your sandwich. You quickly take your first bite.
Before you can even finish the half, you realize, this is starting to taste different.
You look down to find that the juice from the pickle on your plate has slightly penetrated the pores of your texas toast and cheddar cheese.
What is this magic? How was it so good?
The vinegary sweetness of pickles joins this sandwich in a strange but delectable marriage.
It just feels right to have a pickled veggie of some kind involved when youve got a sandwich on your plate.
Could we ask for a more satisfying crunch?
The best part is that homemade dill pickles are easy to make.
Pack Your Grilled Cheese With Veggies
The Spicy Smashed Avocado & Asparagus with Dill Havarti Grilled Cheese at Foodie Crush is my personal pick. I know that asparagus isnt always a kid favorite, but thats kind of the point: to make it more appealing by sandwiching it between crusty bread with melty cheese. The good news is, you can still serve something like this even if you dont think itll work. Just use asparagus for yours and go with another simple veggie for the kids.
Other veggies to tuck into your grilled cheese: Spinach, chopped kale, roasted tomatoes, sliced raw tomatoes, mashed peas, thinly sliced sweet potato, shredded carrots, and red peppers.
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Will Soup Thicken As It Simmers
Allowing your soup to simmer can help it thicken, since it will help some of the liquid evaporate away. This will work better if youve added a thickening agent, such as cornstarch. It works best if you combine the flour with melted butter to make a roux, so that the flour wont clump up in the soup.
The Best Cheeses For Grilled Cheese According To People Who Truly Know
Senior Editor of Food, Style and Shopping at HuffPost
Warning: American cheese has no place in this story.
While its hard to deny the melty perfection of a diner-style grilled cheese sandwich made with slices of American cheese or even Kraft singles, most experts happen to think American cheese is pure garbage.
Its not really cheese to me, its some kind of weird plastic-y substance that should be banned from the face of the earth, Heidi Gibson, co-owner of The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco, told HuffPost.
While not everyone agrees with that, its not the only point of contention when it comes to making a good grilled cheese sandwich. You can use white or wheat bread, and you can slather it with either butter or mayo. You can grate your cheese or you can slice it, or you can get real controversial and put tomatoes in it. But what really matters in a grilled cheese sandwich is the type of cheese you use. And no one agrees on that, either.
But there are professionals who truly know how to turn cheese into magic. When you meet such a person, you should listen to them carefully. We did just that, asking three legendary cheese experts to tell us, in their opinion, the best cheeses for a grilled cheese sandwich.
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Add Animal Protein To Bulk Up To Your Grilled Cheese
Ive seen a lot of cheesesteak-style grilled cheese sandwiches, but the Ground Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese at Dinner Then Dessert is the one of the easiest to whip up, replacing traditional sliced steak with ground beef. A bonus: Its not just easier to make, but also easier for my little kids to eat.
Other meat you can add to grilled cheese: Sliced steak, ground turkey, sliced chicken breast, and sliced deli meat.
What Is A Good Side Dish With Sandwiches
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Is Grilled Cheese Good For Your Health
And although I want to tell you that grilled cheese is also a super healthy dinner option, grilled cheese sandwiches actually contain high calories, saturated fat, and in some cases, sodium, so you should not overeat them.
However, if you know clearly about what you eat and adjust it to be suitable for your bodys needs, nothing will be wrong for you. The staple foods of grilled cheese are whole grain bread and cheese, which are necessary for your health in a medium amount.
Therefore, if you have strong cheese, you can use less cheese in the sandwich to reduce calories. Using whole wheat bread will increase the fiber content and make the grilled cheese sandwich have a nutty flavor.
Tomato Ketchup Chili Ketchup And Mustard
After all, grilled cheese is a kind of sandwich. And a sandwich can always be dipped in some ketchup such as tomato, chili, and mustard.
A bottle of chili, tomato ketchup, or mustard is just for added flavor and doesnt spoil anything. Or you can thicken chili yourself to get some ketchup if you dont want to buy stuff from the supermarket.
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Why Is Tomato Soup Paired With Grilled Cheese
In World War II, Navy cooks prepared countless American cheese filling sandwiches for hungry seamen. School cafeterias purchased cans of tomato soup to go with toasted cheese sandwiches to satisfy the Vitamin C and protein requirements for school lunches, leading to the classic childhood combination.
And The Best Cheese For Grilled Cheese Is
Were partial to regular old cheddar cheesesharp or medium, depending on your preference but a great grilled cheese sandwich can be made out of lots of different cheeses, and our grilled cheese recipe will work with almost any cheese you favor. Here are a few great melters to try:
- Monterey Jack. This mild, creamy white cheese is an even better melter than cheddar, and is extra lovely mixed with a little sharp cheddar.
- Gruyère. Nutty and delightfully salty, Gruyère is an Alpine-style cheese that is widely available in the U.S. and makes for a richly flavorful grilled cheese.
- Raclette. Another gorgeous Alpine-style cheese that is quite literally made for melting. This washed-rind cheese is funkier than Gruyère and will definitely take your grilled cheese into grown-up territory.
- Blue / Chevré. Tangy chevré or sharp blue cheeses can be delicious additions to a grilled cheese, but we like to use them sparingly and coupled with mild, melty cheeses like Jack or cheddar.
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Best Bread For Grilled Cheese:
This is what making grilled cheese is all about!
- Use whatever bread you love, but make sure it is sturdy enough to hold the cheese in.
- White bread and sourdough are the most popular, but even a thickly sliced boule will make a perfect grilled cheese!
- Dark rye and pumpernickel pair well with lighter cheeses like Gouda or Havarti
Truffled Brussel Chips For A Healthy Crisp
We have finally found a happy medium between steamed veggies and a bag of potato chips!
These light and crunchy truffle Brussel chips are super simple to make and tastes so good that they may become the new go-to snack.
The truffle oil adds an element of richness to this recipe, which will make every bite of your cheesy bread more satisfying.
With decadence joining pure comfort, your tastebuds will be so happy that you chose this pair.
Ari has discovered a new perfect snack, and shes giving up the secret on her blog Aris Menu check it out.
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Avocado And Medium Boiled Egg Grilled Cheese
Since breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the daywhy not make one dish that has everything you need to get your day started?
This savory breakfast grilled cheese pairs nutty gouda with creamy avocado, a perfectly cooked medium boiled egg, and some spicy Sriracha all grilled between two buttery slices of wholegrain bread. And best of allthis breakfast sandwich is perfect to eat on the run.
Dont Skimp On The Butter
You need enough butter to achieve the crackly-crisp, buttery, golden exterior that we all crave. If you always keep a stick of butter on the counter, you can simply spread the softened butter generously over the outside pieces of bread. If you dont , you can melt a pat of butter in the skillet before you add the bread.
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Does Grilled Cheese Taste Better With Mayo
Yet it makes quite a nice combination when you think about ingredients used to make mayonnaiseprimarily egg whites and oil in the recipe. When you use mayonnaise instead of butter in place of butter to make grilled cheese, it results in it being golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside! Other people say it tastes much smoother too!!
Bacon And Eggs Baked Avocado Oh My
Grilled cheese for breakfast now were intrigued!
A soft-cooked egg for optimum dipping. Creamy avocado for spreading. And, of course, crispy bacon.
Need we say more?
The texture is soft, so we love the idea of using the baked avocado as a boat for dunking your entree.
Whip up some mimosas and call over your friends, and they will be raving over this brunch pairing fit for the gods .
Mmmmm Bacon
For those of you who may have been drooling at the side dish above, but for one reason and one reason only shout out to you!
Three cheers for bacon lovers!
Bacon is crispy, crunchy, salty, yummy bacon the perfect side for grilled cheese .
On top, on the side, underneath! All the roads lead to Rome, and in this case, Rome is your hungry, soon to be satisfied, mouth. Get ready to dig into your new favorite breakfast pairing.
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Grilled Portobello Bell Pepper And Goat Cheese Sandwiches
The combination of melted cheese and crisp bread makes grilled sandwiches an appealing entrée. You can grill sandwiches either on an outdoor grill or inside on a grill pan.
Warm, melty cheese and earthy mushrooms pair beautifully in this delicious panini. Serve with sweet potato chips for a delicious lunch or light dinner.
How Do You Dress Up Grilled Cheese
Avocado slices, tomatoes, caramelized onions, spinach, arugula, mushrooms, zucchini, and peppers work well. 6. Fruit can also work well with a grilled cheesesuch as thin slices of apples, pears, strawberries, peaches, or kiwi. Even dried cranberries, raisins, and currants are great options.
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Peanut Butter Is One Shocking Ingredient That Can Make For A Delicious Grilled Cheese Sandwich
In her book “Grilled Cheese, Please,” Laura Werlin gives a recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich with whole wheat bread, peanut butter, bologna slices, cheese, and dill pickles. Though this might sound disgusting, she explains that, somehow, the flavors all come together.
“I cook those bologna slices a little bit to get them crispy and put a little mayonnaise on the outside,” she told Insider. “It sounds weird, but it’s honestly really good.”
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Theres Grilled Cheese and theres GREAT Grilled Cheese. Learn how to make the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a crisp, buttery exterior and gooey cheese center.
Try this combination of cheeses and the process for buttering and cooking the toast and you will be known for your Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. All you need is a Creamy Tomato Soup to dunk your sandwich into.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
We love hot sandwiches from our Crispy Chicken Sandwich to Philly Cheesesteak. This Grilled Cheese recipe is well-loved by the whole family. Who can resist that impressive cheese pull? Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is. All you need is a skillet and a spatula.
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Bacon And Cured Meats
It just makes sense to take inspiration from a charcuterie board when building a fancy grilled cheese. Sliced cured meats like prosciutto, speck, country ham, and soppressata all make tasty additions to grilled cheese, as do crispy, savory slices of bacon or even simple deli ham.
Homemade Rustic Tomato Soup
Sandwiches and tomato soup, a love story that could rival any Nicholas Sparks movie.
Whether you dip, dunk, or sip, everything about the taste is complimentary.
The tomato soup brings the perfect amount of acidity while remaining creamy and smooth.
This pair is so compatible that it can be hard to move away from this iconic meal.
The can of Campbells that you had on crisp fall days as a child is a quick, basic side. There are so many options to make tomato soup more fun.
Want hearty and healthy?
If youre watching your sodium intake, but you dont want to sacrifice flavor, this rustic tomato soup is the way to go.
A natural, delicious, homemade recipe is the perfect match.
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Grilled Tomato Smoked Turkey And Muenster Sandwich
This grilled sandwich is chock-full of yumminess. Creamy muenster may be the star, but a slice of juicy tomato plays a delicious supporting role.
Instead of your usual grilled ham and cheese, try this French-style sandwich that’s enhanced by the zip of whole-grain mustard.
This is also called a patty melt: ground meat and cheese nestled between slices of bread and grilled. Prewrapped slices of processed cheddar cheese are the only way to go, as they melt better. We do it here far lighter than you’re likely to find it on the road.
Greens Like Spinach Broccoli Rabe Or Arugula Can Add A Fresh Quality And Cut Through The Richness Of The Cheese
A grilled cheese made with rich, gooey cheese and heavy bread can easily become too rich. Adding leafy greens and other vegetables can cut through that richness and make your sandwich more balanced.
“Arugula and spinach will melt brilliantly,” Werlin said. “Almost any vegetable will lend itself to a grilled cheese sandwich, but if it’s a hard vegetable like a carrot or broccoli or cauliflower, but they have to be briefly cooked first.”
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Is Velveeta Real Cheese
Velveeta is a brand name for a processed cheese product that tastes like an American cheese. It was invented in 1918 by Emil Frey of the Monroe Cheese Company in Monroe, New York. In 1923, The Velveeta Cheese Company was incorporated as a separate company, In 1925, it advertised two varieties, Swiss and American.
What Drink Goes Well With Grilled Cheese
Bubbly goes with any cheese and any sandwich, any time! Slightly sweet white wines like Riesling or Moscato will pair nicely with any sandwich that has a spicy kick. Adding any sort of green like pesto or arugula, go with a light bodied wine with some acid like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
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What Tastes Good On A Cheese Sandwich
Avocado slices, tomatoes, caramelized onions, spinach, arugula, mushrooms, zucchini, and peppers work well. Thin slices of apples, pears, strawberries, peaches, or kiwi can be grilled with fruit. It is possible to add dried cranberries, raisins, and dried apricots to the mix. If youre looking for something a little lighter, you can add a few tablespoons of mayonnaise or mayo to your sandwich.
You can use a variety of toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, cheese, pickles, olives, etc. 9. Its also a good idea to serve the sandwich on a toasted baguette. The best part about this sandwich is that its so easy to make. All you have to do is mix up the ingredients and let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Then, when you want to eat it, just pop it into your mouth and enjoy! If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it and tag a photo #jocooks on Instagram so we can see it.
