Elevated Apple Grilled Cheese by TARa HANSEN
Who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese? They’re comforting, nostalgic and easy to create. You can keep them simple or add-in what you’re craving. For this recipe we elevate your simple grilled cheese and make it sweet and savory by adding apples, two cheeses, and some caramelized onions.
Ingredients:
4 Slices sourdough bread
Petaluma Creamery unsalted butter (Roomtemp or melted. This is to be used for buttering the bread. If using melted butter, apply to bread with a basting brush.)
4 oz Petaluma Creamery Yellow or White Cheddar Cheese (grated)
4 oz Petaluma Creamery Sage Cheddar Cheese (grated)
1/2 Apple, cored and thinly sliced (We used 1/4 Fuji and 1/4 Granny Smith for different colors, consider cutting right before you get started cooking for less oxidation)
1/2 cup Caramelized Onions* (you can make these a day before hand if desired for a quicker grilled cheese, or omit if you’re not a fan. Recipe is attached or use one that you already prefer)
Steps:
Assemble your sandwich. Butter outside of each bread slice, place desired amount of caramelized onions, apple slices, followed by layer of desired cheese (about a 1/2of full recipe amount will ensure equal distribution but you can add more or less depending on preference.)
Give your sandwich a slight press to ensure the sandwich has some stability to stay together.
Heat your skillet to low-medium heat and gently add your assembled sandwich and let sandwich cook until bread is a toasty golden brown and cheese is melty (3-5 minutes.) *Temperature may need to be adjusted based off individual stovetop strengths.
Take a stiff spatula and gently but confidently flip the sandwich over and allow to toast for an additional 3 minutes or until desired doneness.
Use spatula to remove sandwich and place on plate, cut vertically and serve immediately! :)
*Simple Caramelized Onion Recipe:
2 large yellow onions
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
pinch of salt.
*The lower and slower you can cook these onions, the better flavor you will build and the softer they will be.
Peel and cut both onions into half moon shapes and thinly slice.
Heat your butter/oil in a skillet over medium heat and add sliced onion and give a gentle stir to ensure they are coated with your butter/oil. Give onions a pinch of salt to help them give up their moisture and cook down.
Allow onions to cook down for 5-10 minutes and give a good stir to keep onions from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Once onions have started to give up some of their moisture and become softer, add your balsamic and sugar and turn down heat to low setting. Let onions lightly breakdown and gently stir every few minutes.
Once onions have gained color and moisture is lessened, turn pan off and transfer to a bowl until ready to use.