Description
This Pesto Grilled Cheese recipe features crispy sourdough bread layered with fragrant pesto, melted part-skim mozzarella cheese, and fresh plum tomato slices. Grilled to perfection in a panini maker or skillet, it’s a quick and delicious sandwich perfect for any meal or snack.
Ingredients
Sandwich Ingredients
- 8 slices sourdough bread
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto
- 8 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
Instructions
- Prep the bread: Arrange all eight slices of sourdough bread on a clean surface. Spread the prepared pesto evenly over one side of each piece to impart a rich, herby flavor.
- Preheat the grill: Preheat a panini maker or an indoor electric grill to medium heat. If you don’t have these appliances, prepare a skillet or griddle on medium heat for cooking.
- Build the sandwiches: Place a slice of mozzarella cheese on the pesto side of four bread slices. Top these with thin slices of plum tomato. Then cover each tomato-topped slice with another slice of bread, pesto side up, forming sandwiches. Spread softened butter evenly over the outside of each sandwich to ensure a golden, crispy finish during grilling.
- Grill the sandwiches: Place the sandwiches on the preheated grill or skillet. Cook covered for about 3 to 4 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted thoroughly. You may need to cook in batches depending on your grill size. Serve immediately for the best experience.
Notes
- If you don’t have a panini maker or indoor grill, use a skillet or griddle and press sandwiches slightly with a spatula while cooking.
- Let the mozzarella cheese sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before assembling to help it melt faster.
- Work in batches if your cooking surface is small to avoid overcrowding and ensure even grilling.
- Use part-skim mozzarella to reduce fat content while maintaining gooey texture.
- You can substitute sourdough with other sturdy breads like ciabatta or country white bread if preferred.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
