Who doesn’t have a great memory of an ooey-gooey on the inside and golden brown and crispy grilled cheese sandwich made with love by their caretaker? I definitely have some of those memories and they come peaking to the surface every time I make some for my boys, and it lightens my heart to think that I am creating those memories for them.
With April being National Grilled Cheese Month, there will likely be a lot of talk of all things grilled cheese in the weeks to come…and I’m definitely going to be part of that chatter.
Here are some tips on ways that you can get really creative with your sandwiches to enhance the flavors. So, let’s get cooking!
Trendy Grilled Cheese Sandwich Pairings
To get us in the spirit of National Grilled Cheese Month, Sara Lee Artesano Bread has taken three of the top food trends of 2014, veggie-centric dishes, Hawaiian flavors and fermentation, and infused them into several new grilled cheese recipes that you can easily make at home.
Hawaiian| The tropical flavors of Hawaii are big everywhere in 2013 and believe it or not, they can easily be incorporated into a grilled cheese sandwich. To make your ownHawaiian grilled cheese, try pairing Havarti with any meats such as pork or chicken, as well as tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple. This Aloha Pork Grilled Cheese features tangy pork, barbecue sauce, pineapple rings and Hawaiian Chile Pepper Havarti.
Veggie-Centric| Vegetable are no longer considered just a side dish, as the movement to plant-based diets and “eating green” goes mainstream. When pairing a cheese with vegetables, the earthiness and saltiness of a cheese like Gruyere blends nicely with wilted greens. Try this Farm-to-Table Grilled Cheese featuring arugula, broken egg yolk, and Gruyere cheese.
Fermentations| Over the past year, pickling foods has become a major trend, and in 2016, the briny taste typically associated with pickles is now being incorporated into other foods such as onions, cabbage and more. Bring this hot food trend into your next grilled cheese sandwich by pairing a mild, creamy cheese like Fontina with your favorite pickled vegetable This Zesty Grilled Cheese sandwich features Fontina cheese with spicy pickle slices, charred red onion and garlic aioli.