The Perfect Pair: Soup And Grilled Cheese Companions

Grilled cheese sandwiches and soup are a classic combination, but what are some options besides the usual tomato soup? Well, for a similar flavor, you could try roasted red pepper soup, or even a gazpacho. If you're looking for something creamy, lobster bisque, broccoli and cheddar soup, or cream of mushroom soup are all excellent choices. For a more hearty option, why not try a chowder like New England clam chowder or potato corn chowder? Or, if you're feeling adventurous, you could pair your grilled cheese with a French onion soup or a lentil soup.

Lobster bisque with a grilled cheese sandwich

Lobster bisque and grilled cheese is a classic combination, but adding lobster to both the soup and the sandwich takes this pairing to a luxurious level. This decadent meal is surprisingly easy to prepare and is sure to impress and pamper your guests.

To make a lobster bisque, you'll need vegetables like onions, shallots, mushrooms, celery, and carrots, cooked in butter until tender. Add a broth, such as chicken or lobster broth, and season with salt, cayenne pepper, and paprika. For a rich, velvety texture, add half-and-half or full-fat coconut milk. Of course, the star ingredient is lobster meat, and you can add cooked lobster chunks towards the end of the cooking process.

For the grilled cheese sandwich, butter two slices of bread and add a generous amount of cheese, such as Parmesan and mozzarella. To take it up a notch, add chunks of lobster meat to your sandwich. Top it off with another slice of bread, and cook on medium-low heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Serve the lobster bisque in a bowl, with the grilled cheese sandwich on the side or cut into croutons for dunking. This meal is a delightful twist on comfort food and is perfect for a chilly day.

If you want to get creative, you can even serve the lobster bisque in a hollowed-out coconut and enjoy the refreshing coconut water as a drink. This pairing is a delightful indulgence that your taste buds will surely thank you for!

Broccoli and cheddar soup with a grilled cheese sandwich

The Soup:

Broccoli and cheddar soup is a creamy and indulgent treat. To make it, you'll need butter, flour, milk, vegetable or chicken broth, and of course, broccoli and cheddar cheese. Start by creating a roux with butter and flour, then add milk and broth to create a creamy base. Toss in your chopped broccoli, onions, and garlic, and let it simmer until tender. Finally, add grated cheddar cheese, stirring until melted, and season to perfection with salt and pepper. For extra flavour, you can include carrots, celery, or Dijon mustard.

The Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

The perfect companion to the soup is, of course, a grilled cheese sandwich. To make this sandwich, butter the outside of each slice of bread and layer the inside with cheddar cheese, broccoli, and onions. You can also add chicken breast deli meat for extra protein. Grill the sandwich in a pan over medium-low heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Serving Suggestions:

This soup and sandwich combination is a meal in itself, but if you're looking for something extra, consider serving it with crusty bread or homemade croutons. You can also pair it with simple vegetable side dishes like sautéed green beans, Brussels sprouts, or oven-roasted potatoes.

Variations:

While the classic combination is hard to beat, you can change it up by using different types of bread for your grilled cheese, such as French bread or sourdough. You can also experiment with different cheeses, like Gruyere, blue cheese, or gouda, to add a unique twist.

So, there you have it! Broccoli and cheddar soup with a grilled cheese sandwich is a delightful duo that is sure to become a favourite in your household. Enjoy the comfort and warmth of this classic combination on cold days or anytime you're craving something hearty and indulgent.

New England clam chowder with a grilled cheese sandwich

New England clam chowder is a rich, creamy soup that pairs perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich. The combination of smoky bacon, tender clams, and creamy broth in the chowder is complemented by the crisp, buttery grilled cheese. Here are some tips and suggestions to make this pairing a delicious and memorable meal:

Ingredients

For the New England Clam Chowder:

• Start with bacon for a salty, smoky flavour base. Use smoky bacon or salt pork, which is more traditional but can be hard to find.
• Add vegetables like onions, celery, and garlic, cooking them in the rendered bacon fat for extra flavour.
• Include waxy potatoes that hold their shape, such as baby red potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes.
• Use clam juice for an extra boost of seafood flavour. You can use the juice from canned clams or bottled clam juice.
• Thicken the soup with a flour slurry or a combination of heavy cream and flour for a creamier texture.
• Season with fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or bay leaves.

For the Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

• Use a combination of cheeses, such as Gruyere, cheddar, or provolone, to add depth of flavour to the sandwich.
• Choose a crusty bread like sourdough or a baguette for texture and flavour.
• Consider adding toppings like apple slices, red onions, or date jam for a sweet and savoury twist.
• Butter the bread generously before grilling for a richer, more indulgent sandwich.

Preparation and Serving

• Chop the clams finely for the chowder to avoid them becoming rubbery during cooking.
• For a thicker chowder, create a slurry by mixing flour with a small amount of hot liquid from the pot before stirring it back into the soup.
• Taste the chowder before adding salt, as the clams and bacon may provide enough savouriness.
• Serve the chowder with oyster crackers or crusty bread on the side for dipping.
• Grill the sandwich until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted to a golden brown.
• Cut the sandwich into bite-sized pieces or triangles for easier dipping into the chowder.
• For a heartier meal, serve the chowder in a bread bowl, using a hollowed-out crusty bread loaf.
• Pair the soup and sandwich with a refreshing salad, such as a classic Caesar or a tangy coleslaw, to balance the richness of the main course.

Butternut squash soup with a grilled cheese sandwich

Butternut squash soup and grilled cheese is a classic comforting combination, perfect for chilly days. The creamy soup and the crunch of the grilled cheese sandwich make for a delightful textural contrast. Butternut squash soup is a great alternative to the usual tomato soup, and its vibrant orange colour is a feast for the eyes.

The butternut squash soup can be made in a crockpot or a large saucepan. For the crockpot, simply add all the ingredients, except the cream and rosemary, and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. For the stovetop method, heat oil in a large saucepan, add onions, ginger, and spices, followed by the remaining ingredients, and simmer until the squash is tender. For both methods, blend the soup until smooth and then stir in the cream and rosemary.

The grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect partner to the soup. Layering apple slices into the sandwich adds a wonderful crunch and a little twist to the classic. To make the sandwich, cook the apple slices in butter with a pinch of salt until golden. Assemble the sandwich by spreading apple butter on one side of each slice of bread, topping with cheese slices, and then the sauteed apples. Close the sandwich with another slice of bread, and cook in a skillet until the bread is toasted and the cheese has melted.

For a different take on the grilled cheese, a Hawaiian pizza grilled cheese sandwich can be a fun option. This sandwich includes the flavours of a Hawaiian pizza, such as cheese, ham, and pineapple, all enclosed in bread and grilled to perfection. Another variation is the French onion grilled cheese, which captures the flavours of the classic French onion soup in a sandwich.

The butternut squash soup with apple grilled cheese sandwich is a delightful meal, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. The soup can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, and the sandwiches can be quickly grilled just before serving, making this a convenient and tasty meal option.

French onion soup with a grilled cheese sandwich

French onion soup and grilled cheese is a classic combination. The savoury, slightly nutty flavour of the Gruyère cheese in the sandwich pairs well with the sweet and savoury richness of the French onion soup.

To make a French onion grilled cheese sandwich, you will need sliced or grated Gruyère cheese, bread, and caramelised onions. You can add a splash of sherry, red wine or white wine vinegar to the onions to balance out the buttery flavours. If you want to get the perfect ratio of melted cheese to onions, stir them together before assembling the sandwich.

To make the caramelised onions, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened. Then, uncover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking and stirring until the onions are deep golden brown. If the onions look dry, you can add a few tablespoons of water at a time, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the skillet. Once the onions are done, you can deglaze the skillet with vinegar and cook for about a minute.

To assemble the sandwich, scoop the cheese-onion mixture onto a slice of bread and top with another slice. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and add the sandwiches. Cook until the bottoms turn golden brown, then flip and cook until the cheese has fully melted. Serve immediately.

If you're looking for a quicker alternative to French onion soup, you can try making a French onion soup grilled cheese sandwich. Start by caramelising the onions over the stovetop, using sweet onions instead of yellow onions to give the recipe a boost of sugar. Once the onions are soft, add a splash of sherry, fresh thyme, and beef stock to recreate the flavours of the traditional soup. Spread butter on slices of French or Italian bread, add the cheese and onion mixture, and cook in a skillet or on a griddle until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown.

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