Description
Gourmet Mushroom Grilled Cheese elevates comfort food with earthy, umami-rich flavors and melted cheese between crispy, golden-brown bread. Rich layers of sautéed mushrooms and perfectly melted cheese create a luxurious sandwich experience you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Mushroom Filling:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1/4 cup white wine or broth
- 1/2 teaspoon truffle oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 cup fontina cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano, grated
Sandwich Assembly:
- 4 slices bread
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
Instructions
- Prepare a skillet with butter and oil over medium heat, allowing the fats to meld and create a flavorful base for sautéing mushrooms and onions.
- Introduce sliced mushrooms and onions to the skillet, stirring occasionally to promote even caramelization until they transform into a rich, golden-brown color, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Enhance the aromatic profile by incorporating minced garlic and fresh thyme, letting the ingredients release their fragrant essence for about 1 minute.
- Deglaze the pan with wine or broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the concentrated flavor-packed browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, and allow the liquid to reduce for 2-3 minutes.
- Season the mushroom mixture with salt and pepper, then fold in freshly chopped parsley for a burst of brightness, allowing the mixture to cool slightly.
- Gently incorporate the selected cheeses into the mushroom mixture, ensuring an even distribution of flavors.
- Prepare the bread slices by spreading butter on one side of each piece, creating a golden, crispy exterior when grilled.
- Construct the sandwich by placing two bread slices buttered-side down in a clean skillet, layering the mushroom and cheese mixture generously.
- Crown the sandwich with the remaining bread slices, buttered side facing upward.
- Grill the sandwich over medium heat for 2-4 minutes per side, watching carefully to achieve a perfectly crisp, golden-brown exterior and ensure the cheese melts completely.
Notes
- Caramelize Mushrooms Slowly to develop deep, rich flavor by using medium-low heat and allowing natural sugars to transform.
- Cheese Selection Experiment with different melting cheeses like gruyère, fontina, or sharp cheddar for varied taste profiles and textures.
- Vegan Adaptation Replace dairy butter with plant-based alternatives and use vegan cheese for a completely plant-based version of this indulgent sandwich.
- Extra Crunch Add crispy elements like toasted pine nuts or thin potato chips between cheese layers for unexpected textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg