Caprese Grilled Cheese Recipe

by
J. Kenji López-Alt Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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J. Kenji López-Alt
updated Mar. 21, 2019
20150219-grilled-caprese-sandwich-vicky-wasik-1.jpg
Photograph: Vicky Wasik

A Caprese salad stuffed into a hot and crispy grilled cheese sandwich.

Recipe Facts

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Active: 12 mins
Total: 12 mins
Makes: 1 sandwich

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Ingredients

  • 2 slices French or Italian bread
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ounce mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
  • 2 slices ripe tomato
  • 6 basil leaves
  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. Heat one teaspoon butter and one teaspoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until foaming subsides. Add both bread slices and cook, swirling occasionally, until pale golden brown on bottom side, about 2 minutes.

  2. Transfer to a cutting board toasted-side-up. Place half of cheese on top of one slice of bread. Top with tomato, basil, and remaining cheese. Close sandwich, with both toasted sides facing inwards.

  3. Heat one more teaspoon each of butter and oil in the skillet and reduce heat to medium low. Add sandwich and cook, swirling occasionally, until deep, even golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove sandwich using a flexible metal spatula. Add the remaining butter and oil. Return sandwich to skillet cooked-side up. Season with salt. Cook, swirling occasionally, until second side is deep, even golden brown and cheese is thoroughly melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

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