The No-Fail Grilled Cheese Formula That Wins Lunch Every Time
Get creative with unexpected cheeses, fruits, veggies, and misc. toppings.
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Photo: Ted Cavanaugh
American cheese on white bread will forever remain a classic, but there's also something to be said for changing up your grilled cheese. (See: 10 Healthy Grilled Cheese Recipes That Will Make Your Mouth Water) Mix in sophisticated ingredients, vary your cheese, and give it a hit of the unexpected (harissa! honey!) for a thoroughly upgraded flavor bomb of a meal, says food blogger Tieghan Gerard (@halfbakedharvest), the author of Half Baked Harvest Cookbook. Try one of her creative twists here-or play around to invent your own. (BTW, here's what your love of grilled cheese means about your sex life.)
Start with the cheese. Choose one of your favorites, like:
- Cheddar
- Gruyère
- Mozzarella or burrata
- Goat cheese or feta
- Swiss
- Brie
- Havarti
- Fontina
- Muenster
- Blue or Gorgonzola
Next, layer on fruits or veggies:
- Freshly sliced figs, persimmons, pears, or apples
- Whole cranberries
- Jams, like blueberry or fig
- Roasted vegetables, like kale, zucchini, or peppers
- Greens, like spinach, arugula, or shredded brussels sprouts
- Caramelized onions
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Marinated artichokes or olives
Finally, add some crunchy texture or bold flavor:
- Slivered almonds
- Herbs, like thyme or sage
- Bacon or prosciutto
- Honey
- Spreads, like peanut butter, pesto, harissa, or tapenade
Five of Tieghan's melty mash-ups (pictured from top to bottom):
- Goat cheese + Spinach + Olives + Harissa
- Cheddar + Blueberry jam + Slivered almonds
- Burrata + Roasted red peppers + Tapenade
- Cheddar + Roasted veggies + Pesto
- Brie + Persimmons + Fried sage + Honey
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