Andy Montoya
Grilled cheese is a classic, comforting dish that can be elevated with a few creative ingredients. While the traditional grilled cheese is made with sliced bread, butter, and cheese, there are endless possibilities to spice up this simple sandwich. For example, you can add vegetables like arugula, spinach, or roasted red peppers, or even fruit like apples or fig jam. If you're feeling adventurous, try adding condiments such as pesto, mustard, or hot honey, or get fancy with different types of bread and cheese. The options are endless, so get creative and experiment with different combinations to find your perfect grilled cheese!
Characteristics and their values for grilled cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | Sourdough, white, whole wheat, Italian ciabatta, French boule, Pullman, rye, or loaf bread |
| Butter | Salted, unsalted |
| Oil | Olive oil |
| Cheese | Mozzarella, Gruyere, sharp cheddar, gouda, fontina, brie, blue cheese, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, parmesan, havarti, muenster, feta, provolone, ghost pepper jack, white cheddar, or American cheese |
| Herbs and Spices | Basil, garlic, parsley, mustard powder, smoked chipotle powder, flakey salt, garlic powder |
| Sauces | Pesto, cranberry sauce, tzatziki, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, hot sauce, ketchup, honey, buffalo wing sauce, olive tapenade, dill puree |
| Meat | Bacon, pepperoni, deli meats |
| Fruits and Vegetables | Arugula, spinach, caramelized onions, steamed broccoli, roasted red peppers, roasted tomatoes, thinly sliced apples, pickled red onions, pickled radishes, jalapenos, or sauerkraut |
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What You'll Learn
Honey, mustard, and ketchup
For a honey mustard grilled cheese, you can make a sauce by mixing honey, mustard, and mayonnaise. You can spread this sauce on the inside of the bread slices, or serve it on the side for dipping. Layer on some cheese and ham, and cook in a frying pan with butter until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted. You can also add sliced apples to this sandwich, which go well with honey and sharp cheddar.
If you want to add ketchup to your grilled cheese, you can include other ingredients such as sliced tomatoes, or even potatoes, to complement the tangy flavour. You can also experiment with different types of bread, such as sourdough or Pullman bread, to see what best complements the combination of cheese and ketchup.
In addition to honey, mustard, and ketchup, there are numerous other ingredients you can add to a grilled cheese sandwich. These include vegetables like arugula, roasted red peppers, and basil, or meats like bacon and sausage. You can also experiment with different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, Gruyère, or sharp cheddar.
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Deli meats and cheeses
Deli meats are a great way to add some extra flavour and texture to your grilled cheese sandwich. They're easy to add, and the salty, meaty taste can complement the cheese well. Some popular options include pepperoni, bacon, and salami.
When it comes to choosing a cheese for your grilled cheese, the options are endless. However, it's important to select a cheese that melts well, such as mozzarella, fontina, gouda, havarti, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack. For a more indulgent option, try a combination of cheeses, like mozzarella and feta, or fontina and parmesan. If you're feeling adventurous, add some blue cheese for an extra punch of flavour.
To take your grilled cheese to the next level, experiment with different types of bread. Sourdough is a popular choice for its tangy flavour, but you can also try white bread, whole wheat, or even a French boule. Don't be afraid to add some herbs and spices to your bread, such as the classic garlic bread mixture of butter, minced garlic, and parsley.
In addition to deli meats, you can also add some veggies to your grilled cheese. Try arugula, sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, or roasted red peppers for a unique flavour combination. If you're feeling creative, add some fruit like thinly sliced apples or a slather of fig jam.
Lastly, don't forget the condiments! Jams, chutneys, and other sweet and savoury spreads can elevate your grilled cheese. Try cranberry sauce, honey, or even hot pepper relish for a unique twist.
With so many options to choose from, the possibilities for creating a delicious deli meat and cheese grilled cheese sandwich are endless.
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Fruits and vegetables
There are several fruits and vegetables that pair well with grilled cheese. For a sandwich packed with vegetables, try using sourdough bread, provolone cheese, pesto sauce, fresh spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. You can also add olive oil to the bread before grilling, and grill the sandwiches for 2-4 minutes on each side until browned.
Another option is to make a Margherita grilled cheese using Italian bread, garlic, mozzarella cheese, plum tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, and garlic pepper seasoning. Simply rub the bread with fresh garlic, assemble the sandwiches, and grill them. You can also add sliced onions, zucchini, and bell peppers to this sandwich.
If you're looking for a fruit option, consider making a peach bruschetta with fresh peaches, garlic, basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Serve this on whole wheat bread with a few spinach leaves.
Other vegetable options include grilled mushrooms, eggplant, broccoli, asparagus, and avocado. You can also add sliced apples or pears, kimchi, or sliced olives. For a spicy kick, add jalapeños or chili powder.
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Herbs and spices
You can sprinkle herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, and dill over the cheese layers. You can also spread mustard on the grilled cheese featuring sharp cheddar or Alpine cheeses like Gruyere and Emmental. Dijon, spicy brown, or whole-grain mustard are great options. You can also add a pinch of dried oregano and/or basil on the outside surfaces of the bread.
If you want to experiment with different types of cheese, you can try adding herbs and spices to the mix. For instance, you can use mozzarella with a thick aged balsamic glaze, or sharp cheddar with something sweet like honey. You can also add cream cheese to your grilled cheese to make it super creamy.
Additionally, you can flavour the butter with herbs, garlic, and/or pepper flakes. You can also switch out the butter entirely and use olive oil instead. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try using leftover bacon fat instead of butter!
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Sauces and condiments
If you like your grilled cheese with a bit of spice, you could try adding some hot sauce. This could be a simple squeeze of Frank's Red Hot, or you could get creative and mix it with ketchup or ranch. Sriracha is another popular choice, and you could also try sambal, harissa, or other hot pepper-based condiments. Honey can also be swapped out for a hotter version, such as hot honey, which is very trendy right now.
If you're a fan of mustard, you're in luck—it goes great with grilled cheese. Try wholegrain, spicy brown, or Dijon mustard with sharp cheddar or Alpine cheeses like Gruyere and Emmental. You could also add some mayonnaise, perhaps a zesty aioli or a tangy chipotle mayo.
Fruity flavours like jam, jelly, and preserves go well with cheese, especially mild types like chevre. Try raspberry jam, guava paste, cranberry relish, or fig jam. You could also experiment with red pepper jelly, olive tapenade, honeycomb (with blue cheese), apricot preserves, strawberry or raspberry preserves, or orange marmalade. If you want to include some fruit rather than a spread, try thinly sliced apple or pear, or other fleshy fruits like figs, peaches, or berries.
Barbecue sauce is another great option, adding a subtle sweetness and hickory smoke flavour to your sandwich. It goes especially well with meat, like pulled pork, in your grilled cheese. If you want something similar to barbecue sauce but with more heat, try buffalo sauce. This sauce also has buttery undertones and works well with cheddar, chicken, or poultry.
If you're feeling adventurous, you could try adding some melted milk chocolate or Nutella to your grilled cheese, perhaps with some Brie.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ingredients you can add to your grilled cheese to elevate it from a childhood favourite to a next-level indulgence. You can add deli meats such as pepperoni or bacon, or veggies like arugula, spinach, caramelized onions, steamed broccoli, roasted red peppers, or roasted tomatoes. You can also add fruits such as thinly sliced apples or a slather of fig jam.
Sauces and condiments can add a lot of flavour to your grilled cheese. You can try mustard, pesto, cranberry sauce, tzatziki sauce, or hot sauces like sriracha or buffalo wing sauce. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even try adding chocolate or Nutella to your grilled cheese.
The type of bread you use can make a big difference in the flavour and texture of your grilled cheese. Sourdough is a popular choice for its tang, but you can also use white bread, whole wheat bread, Italian ciabatta, or French boule. It's important to avoid bread that is too thick, too thin, too soft, or too holey, as this can affect the melting of the cheese.
