8 Fabulous Sandwiches to Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month

Author:
Linda Lum
Updated date:
Apr 23, 2020

Linda explores food facts, folklore, and fabulous recipes, one ingredient at a time.

A delicious, decadent, comforting grilled cheese sandwich
Pixabay

April Is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month!

Shall we ask for a drum roll please, or for a moment of silence?

If one were to look up the word “comfort food” in the dictionary, would there not be a photograph of a grilled cheese sandwich?

Think about it.

Bread shimmering with a light brush of olive oil, margarine, or (dear Heaven!) pure Irish butter. Then that bread is slowly toasted until it becomes crisp and golden. Encased within that tender-crisp bread shield is a buttery, creamy, oozy layer of cheese.

Does life get any better than this?

Imagine for a Moment These Amazing Combinations

Everyone knows how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, so I won't insult your intelligence by giving you a step-by-step tutorial. But allow me to present a few flavor combinations that you might not have thought of before:

1. Caprese

As with the famous Italian salad, you will want to find the freshest Mozzarella and ricotta cheeses and the best of summertime's bounty of juicy sweet sun-kissed tomatoes.

Bread: Rustic Italian loaf
Cheese: Fresh Mozzarella, fresh ricotta
Vegetable or Fruit: Fresh tomato slices, fresh basil leaves
Condiment: A drizzle of balsamic vinegar

2. Chicken, Pepper Jack, and Avocado

It's like a chicken taco without the crunchy shell but there are still lots of contrasting textures in this Tex-Mex-flavored sandwich.

Bread: Rustic white
Cheese: Pepper jack
Protein: Shredded rotisserie chicken
Vegetable or Fruit: Avocado
Condiment: Chipotle mayonnaise

3. Deli Turkey With Goat Cheese

I love the contrast of sweet tender white turkey slices and funky goat cheese. The rosemary and smoked almonds will provide crunch and a surprising pop of flavor.

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4. Ham, Gruyere, and Cherry

Baked hams are often glazed with fruit preserves or pineapple juice; why not add that sweet touch to your grilled ham sandwich?

Bread: Brioche
Cheese: Gruyère
Protein: Deli-sliced ham
Condiment: Cherry preserves

5. Roast Beef With Bacon and Gorgonzola

I've always loved the combination of beef and blue cheese; you haven't lived until you've tasted a filet mignon with Roquefort cheese melting on top or a medium-rare burger just off the grill with a slice of Stilton on top. This grown-up version will elevate your grilled cheese to a whole new level.

Bread: Sourdough
Cheese: Gorgonzola
Protein: Rare roast beef, crisp-cooked bacon
Vegetable: Thinly-sliced red onion
Condiment: Sour cream

6. Smoked Gouda With Chutney

The first time I tasted mango chutney was on an appetizer served at the wedding reception for my nephew and his wife. It had an amazing sweet-tart flavor I had never before experienced. I soon learned that the "secret ingredient" was tamarind.

Bread: Oatmeal
Cheese: Smoked Gouda, shredded
Protein: Crisp-cooked bacon slices
Vegetable or Fruit: Apple or mango chutney (I like Major Greys)
Condiment: Dijon mustard, mayonnaise

7. Turkey, Brie, and Cranberry Sauce

The second happiest day in my kitchen is Thanksgiving Day. The happiest day in my kitchen is the day after Thanksgiving. That's when we take tender slices of moist turkey, leftover cranberry sauce, and use them to create an amazing sandwich.