Description
Melted mozzarella and homemade pesto dance between golden-brown sourdough slices in this ultimate pesto grilled cheese sandwich. Crispy edges and herbal notes promise a delightful lunch that satisfies cravings with Italian-inspired comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 slices sourdough or Italian bread
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or sliced provolone cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or Gruyere cheese
- 2 tbsps basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tbsps butter, softened
- 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
- Handful of fresh spinach or arugula
Instructions
- Pesto Layering: Generously coat each bread slice with vibrant basil pesto, ensuring complete coverage. Strategically arrange mozzarella and cheddar cheese across the bread, creating an even cheese landscape. Embellish with optional fresh spinach or ripe tomato slices for added complexity.
- Bread Preparation: Lavishly spread softened butter along the exterior of each sandwich, guaranteeing a golden, crisp exterior.
- Skillet Transformation: Ignite a skillet over medium heat. Carefully nestle the assembled sandwiches butter-side down, allowing the bread to develop a rich, caramelized texture. Apply gentle pressure with a spatula to enhance even browning. After 3-4 minutes, when the underside achieves a deep golden hue, skillfully flip the sandwich. Continue cooking until both surfaces radiate a crisp, appetizing appearance and the cheese melts into a luxurious, gooey consistency.
- Culinary Presentation: Extract the grilled cheese from the skillet, permitting a brief cooling moment. Slice diagonally to reveal the molten cheese interior. Accompany with marinara sauce, velvety tomato soup, or a crisp garden salad for a complete gastronomic experience.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for easy spreading and even coating, creating a perfectly golden, crispy exterior.
- Use a combination of mozzarella and cheddar for optimal melting and flavor complexity, ensuring a creamy, gooey texture.
- Maintain medium heat to prevent burning while allowing the bread to crisp and cheese to melt thoroughly without scorching.
- Swap dairy cheese with plant-based alternatives for a vegan version, using dairy-free pesto and vegan cheese slices to maintain the original recipe’s integrity.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg