The Perfect Pairing: Toasted Cheese Sandwiches And More

There are many options for what to serve with a toasted cheese sandwich, from soups to salads, and from fries to dips.

A classic pairing is a bowl of tomato soup, but you could also try chicken noodle soup, or a light vegetable or broth-based meat soup.

If you're looking for something to dip your sandwich into, try a spicy tomato jam, bacon aioli, salsa, or pickles.

For a lighter option, a simple green salad or a spinach salad with apples can complement the richness of the sandwich.

For a true diner-style meal, serve your sandwich with a side of fries. Sweet potato fries are a popular option, but you could also try Parmesan truffle fries or sweet potato fries with wasabi-pea dip.

Other sides to consider include baby carrots, fresh fruit, or nuts.

Salads

Green Salads

A simple green salad with fresh veggies like spinach, arugula, and apples can be a great side to your toasted cheese sandwich. You can also add some nuts like walnuts or pecans to the salad to add some crunch and extra flavour.

Spinach Salad with Apples

The combination of apples and spinach goes well with the cheese in the sandwich, making it a refreshing and tasty option.

Caesar Salad

A classic Caesar salad with a creamy dressing is another great option to pair with your toasted cheese sandwich.

Caprese Orzo Salad

This salad is light and bright, with the flavours of tomato, mozzarella, and basil. It is a perfect choice to go with your toasted cheese sandwich.

Waldorf Salad

A Waldorf salad is an excellent choice as it contains apples, grapes, and nuts, which pair perfectly with cheese.

Broccoli Salad

A classic broccoli salad is a fresh and crunchy option to accompany your toasted cheese sandwich.

Greek Salad

A refreshing Greek salad with ingredients like tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, feta cheese, olives, and mint leaves can be a delicious and healthy option to pair with your sandwich.

Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad with Pesto

This colourful and refreshing salad is perfect for spring and summer. The addition of pesto gives it a delicious flavour boost.

Watermelon Feta Salad

Watermelon and feta is a classic summer combination, and the addition of fresh mint takes this salad to the next level. It is a perfect contrast to the gooey cheesiness of the sandwich.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This salad is light and tasty, with a zesty lemon dressing. It is a great way to add some freshness and flavour to your meal.

Soups

There's nothing quite as comforting as a hot, delicious toasted cheese sandwich with a bowl of soup. Here are some soup options that make a perfect pairing:

Tomato Soup

A classic pairing with a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup is a popular choice for a reason. It's comforting, familiar, and easy to make. You can elevate the classic with roasted tomatoes and fresh herbs or add a swirl of cream and fresh basil for a more indulgent experience.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

For something a little different, try a roasted red pepper soup. This soup gets its unique, smoky flavour from the roasted peppers and pairs beautifully with a grilled cheese sandwich. It's a great option if you're looking for something a little sweeter.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

A creamy mushroom soup is another decadent option to serve with your grilled cheese. The earthiness of the mushrooms will complement the cheese, and the creaminess will add a luxurious touch to your meal.

Light Vegetable Soups

If you're looking for something lighter, there are plenty of vegetable soups that will pair well with your sandwich. A corn chowder, creamy hazelnut soup, or a summer zucchini soup will add some variety to your meal without overwhelming the flavours of the grilled cheese.

Broth-Based Meat Soups

For a heartier option, consider a broth-based meat soup. These can be a great way to add some extra protein to your meal while still enjoying the comfort of a grilled cheese sandwich on the side.

Potato Zucchini Soup

If you're catering to vegan or gluten-free dietary restrictions, a potato zucchini soup is a delicious option. It's a light and creamy soup that will let your grilled cheese shine while still offering a tasty and satisfying soup course.

Chips

If you want to get a bit more creative, you can make grilled cheese chips. These are essentially mini grilled cheese sandwiches that have been flattened and cut into triangles to resemble tortilla chips. Simply remove the crusts from some soft white sandwich bread, add cheese, flatten with a rolling pin, cut into triangles, and bake in the oven until golden and crispy.

• Use thin or medium slices of soft white sandwich bread.
• A sharp cheddar works best for flavour, and it also withstands burning pretty well.
• Spread butter on both sides of the bread.
• These chips are great with a dip, with tomato chutney, or as nachos.

For a more classic approach, simply serve a portion of potato chips alongside your grilled cheese sandwich. You can even add the chips to the sandwich!

Fruit

Classic Combinations

One of the most popular fruit and cheese combinations is apple and cheddar. The crisp, slightly tart flavour of the apple complements the sharpness of the cheddar, creating a harmonious blend of sweet and savoury. Similarly, grapes and brie make for another classic pairing, with the juicy sweetness of the grapes balancing out the creamy, buttery flavour of the brie.

Unexpected Pairings

If you're feeling adventurous, try blue cheese with pears. The sweetness of the pear contrasts beautifully with the bold, tangy flavour of the blue cheese. Another unexpected pairing is goat cheese with strawberries – the tangy, earthy flavour of the goat cheese is enhanced by the sweetness of the strawberries, resulting in a unique and delicious combination.

Choosing the Right Fruit

When selecting fruit to pair with your toasted cheese sandwich, consider the seasonality and ripeness of the fruit. Opt for fruits that are in season, as they will be at their peak flavour. Additionally, choose fruits that are ripe but firm, as overly ripe fruit can be too mushy and overpower the cheese.

Specific Fruit and Cheese Pairings

• Fig and goat cheese, or pear and gorgonzola. The sweet, jammy flavour of figs pairs beautifully with the tangy goat cheese, while the juicy, slightly grainy texture of pears complements the sharpness of gorgonzola.
• Tangy fruits like pineapple and mango pair well with sharp, aged cheeses like Parmesan.
• Milder fruits like strawberries and raspberries complement the creamy texture of soft cheeses like Camembert or Brie.
• Dried fruits, such as apricots, figs, and dates, can also be excellent additions to a cheese platter, as they often have concentrated flavours that can complement the cheese.

Presentation Tips

When presenting a fruit and cheese platter, arrange the fruits and cheeses in a visually appealing manner, using a variety of textures and colours to create an aesthetically pleasing display. Provide a knife for cutting and serving the cheeses. You can also include nuts such as almonds, walnuts, or pistachios to add a satisfying crunch and extra flavour to your fruit and cheese pairings.

Meat

Adding meat to a toasted cheese sandwich is a great way to elevate your lunch or snack. Here are some ideas for meat to add to your toasted cheese sandwich:

Ham

A classic combination, a grilled ham and cheese sandwich is a simple yet delicious option. Try using shaved ham, which will create more surface area for the flavours to meld together. Honey ham, smoked Virginia ham, peppered ham, spiral ham, and black forest ham are all great options to pair with your cheese.

Roast Beef

Leftover roast beef works well in a toasted sandwich. Try using braised or crockpot shredded roast beef, and heat it up with some beef or vegetable stock before adding it to your sandwich. You can also add some sautéed onions to this sandwich for extra flavour.

Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto, and Soppressata

For an Italian twist on the classic grilled cheese, add some cured meats like salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, or soppressata if you want something spicy. You can also add some mortadella for a creamier texture.

Bacon

Try a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, or add bacon to one of the above options for a savoury, crunchy bite.

Frequently asked questions