Ultimate Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Nothing goes better with tomato soup than a perfect grilled cheese sandwich filled with gooey cheeses on the best bread. Last week with all the August tomatoes ripe on the vine, I shared a Quick and Easy Creamy Roasted Tomato Bisque Recipe with you. Today I’m posting this simple recipe for the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich I served with it.
What Makes This Grilled Cheese Gourmet?
Although I love good old-fashioned grilled cheese sandwiches, this recipe blows it out of the water. It’s like a French onion soup in a sandwich. By topping the bread with a delicious pile of caramelized shallots with herbs and adding a perfect amount of shredded gruyere cheese, it is elevated to a whole new level. Gone is boring American cheese or sharp cheddar cheese. Both are delicious, but Gruyere melts nicely, and the shallots add sweetness to each bite. You could add a dash of Dijon mustard if you like.
The Keys To a Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
The first step to making the best-grilled cheese sandwich is picking the proper bread. There is something nostalgic about traditional white bread, but here you want to skip the Wonder Bread and find a rustic loaf you can cut into thick slices. Whether it be crusty Italian bread, tangy sourdough bread, or herb-filled bread, picking the proper bread is critical. And the slices of bread have to be just the right thickness.
Next, it’s all about using the best cheese. Here we are using Gruyere cheese, which melts wonderfully and has a nutty flavor. It complements the sweetness of the caramelized onions. I have seen sandwiches made with Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, American, Muenster cheese, and even cream cheese, all are great, but none of them work as well with the shallots as the Gruyere. I also like finely grated cheese, as opposed to slices of cheese. It melts faster and drips down the sides to crust up on the outside of the sandwich.
If you want to try a cheese mixture, use Gruyere and Fontina in this recipe. Both melt well, and their flavors work well together.
The Big Debate, Mayo or Butter
Even in my home, we have a debate: is butter or mayonnaise better for the outside of the bread? I like them both, but I lean more toward using a tablespoon butter, which is really soft. I like the flavor of butter. But slathering each slice of bread with a tablespoon mayonnaise works just as well.
Caramelizing Shallots
It takes time and patience to caramelize shallots properly. You could substitute a sweet onion, but I like the flavor of shallots for this sandwich. Heat just enough butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the thinly sliced shallots and the herbs and reduce the heat immediately. You don’t want burned shallots; you want golden brown, sweet shallots. It takes a bit of time to caramelize.
Griddle Vs. Nonstick Skillet
Either works. But my suggestion for either is don’t start too high on the heat. A medium heat will take longer to cook, but you will get the perfect buttery crust on both sides without burning. And put a lid over the sandwich as it cooks; cheese melts better this way.
So this week, make the best grilled cheese sandwich. It’s easy to elevate and works great with a summer roasted tomato bisque.
Ultimate Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 thick slices of crusty bread sourdough, Italian, or herb
- 2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
- 2 cups thinly sliced shallots
- 4 tablespoons butter room temperature
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves minced
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Heat pan over medium-high heat, add two tablespoons butter, and allow to melt and begin to foam. Add shallots and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Lower heat to medium and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes. Stir and continue to cook until a dark golden brown. Remove from the heat.
- Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Butter each slice of bread on one side. Place two slices of bread on the pan, butter side down. Put half of the caramelized shallots on the bread. Top with half of the shredded cheese. Place the second slice of bread (butter side up) on top. Cover loosely and cook until the bread is golden brown. Flip and cook the other side. Serve and enjoy.
