Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This caprese grilled cheese sandwich is a delicious treat anytime of the day. It’s every kid’s rite to passage into the grilled cheese world. We all have been disappointed by some grilled cheese sandwiches in our lives so it fair to say that there’s grilled cheese sandwich and then there’s GREAT Grilled Cheese Sandwich. For years this had been an all-time favourite sandwich for the family when the craving strikes.

A basic grilled cheese sandwich is made with sliced bread, cheese slices, and butter or olive oil. But, why stop there?? You can use a variety of bread types like sourdough, or bloomer bread, any cheese that melts, and endless additional ingredients. You can add meat, vegetables, seasonings, and even fruit.

Here’s a recipe of how to make the best Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a crisp, buttery exterior and gooey cheese centre and you will be known for your Caprese Grilled cheese Sandwich. The bread is perfectly crispy and the flavour combinations are amazing. I love how gooey the fresh mozzarella gets and then who can resist the impressive cheese pull. All you need is a Creamy Tomato Soup or Classic Cream of Tomato Soup to dip your sandwich into. A perfect lunch or light dinner to warm you up.

Additions to your Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

• Balsamic : To give it that true caprese taste, add a small drizzle of balsamic glaze over top the tomatoes. Absolute perfection!
• Rocket leaves : It’s sturdy in structure with a subtle peppery taste, making it the perfect way to pack more greens into your sandwich. You can substitute rocket leaves with spinach or kale.
• Avocado : Adding a few slices of fresh avocado make the sandwich more delicious and creamy.

Best way to cook Grilled cheese sandwich :

To get the perfect crispness on the outside and the right level of gooey-ness in the cheese its best to use a cast-iron skillet or any non-stick pan. To cook multiple sandwiches at once, try a griddle or flat cooktop, or even a panini press.

Helpful Tips and Tricks to make the best Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

• Use good quality bread is the key – This really does make a huge difference in taste and crispiness. Look for bread that’s sliced about twice as thick as normal bread (3/4″ to 1″ thick) and fresh, such as a sourdough bread from your local bakery. It makes the sandwich taste like it came straight from the deli! Using bread that is too thin will produce a flimsy and sometimes soggy sandwich.
• Butter the bread well, don’t skimp on the butter – Another key to a super flavorful and crispy sandwich is buttering the bread. The amount of butter may seem like a lot, but it add amazing flavours and is important for a super crispy exterior! Spread the butter evenly on top each slice of bread, then place that side down onto the pan to fry.
• Homemade pesto – This isn’t a necessity, although making homemade basil pesto really takes this sandwich to another level. If you have lots of basil in your garden, this is the perfect way to use it up!
• The mozzarella makes a huge difference in the sandwich. It’s like using two totally different ingredients if you get the wrong kind. Another reason this sandwich is so delicious is all of that melted mozzarella cheese. They key here is to buy a block of fresh mozzarella and cut it into thick slices (about 1/4 inch). Once it melts, it gets super gooey and delicious
• Low heat – it takes a little patience to make the perfect grilled cheese. Keep your heat on low to give the cheese time to fully melt while the bread gets golden and crisp. If browning too fast, turn the heat down.
• Making this sandwich vegan – Instead of regular butter and cheese you can make a delicious sandwich with vegan butter and cheese, and substitute instead of regular pesto use vegan pesto.

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Serves: 1 sandwich Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 10 Minutes 10 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 2 voted )

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Ingredients

• 2 slice bloomer bread or sourdough
• 2 tbsp basil pesto
• 1 tsp balsamic glaze
• 1/2  tomato, sliced
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, slices or grated
• 1 ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Handful of rocket leaves
• 4-5 fresh basil leaves
• salt and pepper to taste

Balsamic Glaze

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey

 

method

For the Sandwich

1. Make the Basil Pesto. Alternatively, to make this recipe super-simple and fast, use your favourite store bought pesto (although, nothing's as good as homemade...).
2. Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Butter one side of each slice of bread, spread a thick layer of pesto on the other side of both pieces of bread.
3. Arrange the mozzarella slices or grated mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, avocado, rocket, basil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle a little balsamic glaze and top. Cover with the other piece of bread.
4. Place the sandwich on the pre heated grill pan. Press lightly and cook for 5-7 minutes. Carefully flip with a metal spatula and lightly press again. Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is crisp and golden brown in colour.
5. Serve hot. 

 

For the Balsamic Glaze

1.  In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar to a simmer over medium heat, then stir in the honey. 
2. Once the mixture begins to simmer, turn down to medium low. Lightly simmer, stirring occasionally until it has reduced in half and has started to thicken, about 6 to 8 minutes. A good rule of thumb if it is done, is to see if it will stick to the back of a spoon. Then you know it's ready! 
3. Pour into a small glass jar or bowl and cover. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. It will thicken as it cools. It stores well for upto a month.

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you did, take a picture and tag me on Instagram at @poetryofspices!