A gourmet grilled cheese sandwich is a versatile comfort food that suits any meal of the day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. After all, its crispy, buttery, and salty texture is hard to ignore. While it is easy to assume that the core of this recipe is just about putting cheese between two slices of bread, taking various steps to gather ingredients and prepare the sandwich in a specific way can make all the difference.
The difference between a grilled cheese sandwich and a toastie
While both these dishes share several similarities, a toastie is made with the help of a sandwich press or toastie maker. So, while one may use the same ingredients, the outcome from a sandwich press may cause the bread to get toasted and too squished on the outside while soft on the inside. Even the cheese might ooze out a little too much. The grilled cheese alternative, on the other hand, typically maintains a consistent texture.
Ingredient list
While one doesn’t need to buy plenty of ingredients to make a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, one can always mix and match ingredients—like seasonings—to come up with their own version of the dish. In the meantime, one must keep certain basic items in stock to make the dish.
1. Bread
A gourmet grilled cheese sandwich is typically made with any type of sliced bread. But, one should see that the slices are not too thick, thin, or soft, as they might get squished by the cheese. Slice bread with too many holes might serve as an escape route for the cheese. This can get quite messy. A popular bread choice is sourdough bread, but not the thick kind. A normal batch should work just fine.
2. Cheese
There are various cheese options one can use for a gourmet grilled sandwich. But using cheese like mozzarella is how one can elevate a classic grilled cheese sandwich. This ingredient is preferred for its cheese pull and non-greasy nature. Mozzarella also has a mild flavor, meaning it will not overshadow the other ingredients in the sandwich. One can grate the cheese themselves to make the ultimate sandwich, as the melting result can be much smoother. Also, one must note that if they pick store-bought pre-shredded cheese, it is coated with anti-caking agents, which can prevent it from melting. So, the final result might look rubbery and sticky. Alternatively, one could use cheese slices for a smoother texture.
3. Salted butter
The ultimate ingredient to use in the cheese grill sandwich is salted butter. But, if one does not want to use this ingredient, one could sprinkle some salt instead. The salt can make a marginal difference in a grilled cheese sandwich.
How to make the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich
Now that the ingredients are laid out, one can read all about how to make the dish.
- First, grate the cheese using a standard box grater. If one has opted for store-bought pre-grated cheese, proceed directly to the next step.
- One must then butter the bread. This should be done on all four sides of the two slices.
- After buttering, one must put the bread in a pre-heated heavy-based skillet or a non-stick fry pan over medium-low heat. One must allow the bread to toast lightly for about one minute. The process gives the side of the bread some extra toasty flavor.
- Now, turn one slice of bread and pile the cheese on top. The other piece should be placed on top with the warm toasted side in contact with the cheese.
- Press the bread down lightly and cook for about three minutes, until the underside is deep and golden brown. If the bread browns too quickly, remove the pan from the stove, allow it to cool, and lower the heat.
- After the set timeframe, the individual must turn the sandwich and cook the other side for three minutes.
- Once the bread is golden brown, the individual must shift the sandwich to a cutting board and slice it in half.
That’s all there is to the recipe. One can enjoy this elevated version of the classic grilled cheese sandwich themselves or serve it to others.
Gourmet grilled cheese sandwich with unique ingredients
If one wishes to get creative with the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, there are many combinations to try. For instance, in addition to the cheese and butter, one could add ingredients such as thyme and lemon zest, freshly ground pepper, and apple to the mix. The process for this recipe goes like this.
- First, one should cut sourdough bread into four half-inch slices.
- The individual must top two slices of sourdough with sliced camembert cheese and sprinkle the lemon zest, ground pepper, and thyme over the camembert cuts.
- One can add cheddar cheese pieces to the other two slices of sourdough, then carefully close the sandwich, putting the apple sides above the cheddar sides. One must follow this by pressing the sandwich together with their hand.
- After this, one must heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and apply some avocado oil.
- Next, place the cheddar side of the sandwiches on the skillet, cook it for some time, and press down occasionally until the cheese starts melting. One must also confirm that the underside of the bread has turned golden brown. Now, flip the sandwich and follow the process until the other side reaches the same color and texture.
- Lastly, one can slice and serve the sandwich to friends and family.