Frederic Melton
Grilled cheese is a classic, comforting dish, but there are endless ways to spice it up. The first thing to consider is the bread—while the classic option is white bread, you could use sourdough, multigrain, pumpernickel, or even raisin bread. Next, you'll want to choose your cheese. While American and cheddar are popular, you could try something different like Gruyère, gouda, brie, or smoked cheddar. To really spice things up, try adding a third cheese to the mix, like parmesan or provolone. If you want to get fancy, you can add toppings like caramelized onions, bell peppers, or even a spread like jam or honey. And don't forget about the cooking fat—butter is classic, but you could also use olive oil, truffle oil, or mayonnaise for a crispier exterior.
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What You'll Learn
- Use different types of bread, like sourdough, multigrain, or pumpernickel
- Try adding a spread, such as jam, honey, or mustard
- Experiment with various cheeses, including Gruyère, smoked cheddar, or blue cheese
- Add extra toppings, like caramelized onions, bell peppers, or deli meats
- Cook with butter, olive oil, or mayonnaise for added flavour and crispness
Use different types of bread, like sourdough, multigrain, or pumpernickel
When it comes to grilled cheese, the bread you choose is important. While the classic option is white bread, branching out to different types of bread is an easy way to spice up your grilled cheese. Sourdough, multigrain, or pumpernickel are all fantastic choices. Sourdough, in particular, is a versatile option with its little nooks and crannies that allow butter, oil, or mayonnaise to crisp up nicely.
If you're feeling creative, you could even make your own bread from scratch. For example, you could try making a jalapeño cheddar bread that would not only taste delicious but also make your sandwich stand out from the norm. Another option is to use a heartier bread, such as homemade pain de mie, and pair it with a soft, melty cheese and a sweet jam.
Remember that the bread you choose should complement your other ingredients and enhance the overall flavour and texture of your sandwich. You don't want to choose a bread that is too dense or thick, as it will throw off the ratio of bread to cheese and may prevent your sandwich from getting crispy. A half-inch slice of bread is generally recommended.
So, the next time you're craving a grilled cheese, don't be afraid to experiment with different types of bread to take your sandwich to the next level!
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Try adding a spread, such as jam, honey, or mustard
Adding a spread to your grilled cheese is a great way to spice things up. You can use jam, honey, or mustard, and each will bring something different to the sandwich.
Jam, for example, will add a fruity, sweet element to your grilled cheese. You could use marmalade, fig, or raspberry jam, or any other variety you have in your fridge. Honey will also add a sweet element to your sandwich and is a great option if you're making your grilled cheese with raisin bread.
If you're looking for something a little less sweet, you could try mustard. A grainy mustard like Dijon will add a tangy, sharp flavor to your grilled cheese and cut through the richness of the cheese. You could also try a whole grain or spicy brown mustard. If you're making your grilled cheese with meat, like ham or bacon, mustard is a great option as it pairs well with these ingredients.
When adding a spread to your grilled cheese, you can simply spread it on the inside of your sandwich, or you can spread it on the outside of the bread for a crispy, browned exterior.
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Experiment with various cheeses, including Gruyère, smoked cheddar, or blue cheese
Experimenting with different types of cheese is a great way to elevate your grilled cheese sandwiches. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Gruyère
Gruyère is a Swiss cheese with a strong, salty, and umami flavour. When paired with sourdough bread, the slight tang of the sourdough complements the cheese beautifully. To make a Gruyère grilled cheese, spread butter generously on each slice of bread. Place one slice, buttered side down, in a hot skillet. Add an even layer of Gruyère, then top with the second slice, buttered side up. Once the bottom slice is lightly golden brown, carefully flip the sandwich. Let it cook for another 2-5 minutes, then flip again. The sandwich is ready when both sides are golden brown and the cheese has melted.
Smoked cheddar
For a smoky twist, try using smoked cheddar in your grilled cheese. You can simply use smoked cheddar in place of regular cheddar in your grilled cheese, or get creative by adding other cheeses and ingredients. One option is to combine smoked gouda, mozzarella, and butter for a decadent, smoky treat. Another idea is to make a smoked gouda grilled cheese and smoke it on a BBQ or pellet smoker for an extra smoky kick.
Blue cheese
If you're feeling adventurous, blue cheese adds a bold, tangy flavour to grilled cheese sandwiches. For a three-cheese blend, combine sharp Vermont white cheddar, Parmesan Reggiano, and blue cheese. Start by buttering your bread, then add the white cheddar, followed by Parmesan, and finally, crumble blue cheese on top. Finish with another layer of white cheddar and the second slice of bread. Cook until both sides are golden brown and serve with chips or soup.
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Add extra toppings, like caramelized onions, bell peppers, or deli meats
There are endless ways to spice up a grilled cheese sandwich by adding extra toppings, such as caramelized onions, bell peppers, or deli meats.
Caramelized onions are a great way to add a savory, sweet, and acidic element to your grilled cheese. To make them, thinly slice a yellow or sweet onion and cook it in a skillet with butter and olive oil for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are a deep brown colour. You can prepare a large batch of caramelized onions and store them in the fridge or freezer to have them on hand for future grilled cheese sandwiches. For a French onion soup-inspired grilled cheese, combine caramelized onions with Gruyère cheese.
If you're looking for a crunchy texture and a savoury flavour, try adding bell peppers to your grilled cheese. It is recommended that you cook the bell peppers a little before adding them to your sandwich to ensure that they are softer and that the water content has reduced. This will prevent your grilled cheese from becoming watery.
You can also add deli meats such as turkey, ham, pastrami, prosciutto, or salami to your grilled cheese for extra protein and flavour. For a heartier sandwich, combine your chosen deli meat with a soft and melty cheese.
When assembling your grilled cheese, start by buttering one side of each slice of bread. Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet, layer your desired combination of toppings, and then place the second slice of bread on top, buttered-side up. Cook your sandwich for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown and toasted.
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Cook with butter, olive oil, or mayonnaise for added flavour and crispness
While butter is the gold standard for a traditional grilled cheese, you can cook with butter, olive oil, or mayonnaise for added flavour and crispness.
Butter
Butter is a great option for cooking grilled cheese, but it's not the only choice. If you want to stick with butter, you can try mixing it with olive oil or mayonnaise for a different flavour profile. When using butter, it's important to keep the heat low to medium-low to prevent the butter from burning.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a good alternative to butter when cooking grilled cheese. It has a neutral flavour and a low smoke point, so it's important to cook the sandwich on low heat. Olive oil can help achieve a nice brown colour on the bread without burning as easily as butter. It also provides a lovely crispiness to the sandwich. However, be cautious when using olive oil on higher heat as it can get very smoky and may start a fire.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a popular substitute for butter when making grilled cheese sandwiches. It produces a crisp crust and adds a slightly tangy flavour. Mayo is an oil-based fat with a higher smoke point than butter, so it's less likely to burn before the cheese melts. It spreads easily, giving the sandwich a delicious, crispy texture.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a variety of ingredients to spice up a grilled cheese sandwich. For the bread, you can use sourdough, multigrain, pumpernickel, or raisin bread. For the cheese, you can use cheddar, American cheese, smoked cheddar, Gruyère, gouda, brie, mimolette, Monterey Jack, or blue cheese. You can also add herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, and dill.
You can add a variety of sweet ingredients to a grilled cheese sandwich. Some options include jam, marmalade, honey, or raisin bread. You can also try adding a layer of Nutella or peanut butter to your sandwich.
There are several savoury ingredients you can add to a grilled cheese sandwich. You can add meats such as bacon, ham, salami, or chicken. You can also add vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or butternut squash. Additionally, you can spread mayonnaise, mustard, or olive oil on the outside of the bread for extra flavour and crispness.
Here are a few creative grilled cheese sandwich recipes:
- French onion soup-inspired grilled cheese with caramelized onions and Gruyère
- Welsh rarebit cheese toastie with cheddar-beer sauce, seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, red chilli pepper flakes, and mustard powder
- Caprese grilled cheese with tomato, basil, and olive oil
