Servings: 4
Start to finish: 30 minutes
7 ounces aged cheddar cheese, cut into 24 equal pieces, room temperature
2 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed
2 tablespoons dry white wine or dry vermouth
4 teaspoons minced shallot
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
8 slices hearty white sandwich bread
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 F. Process cheddar, Brie, and wine in food processor until smooth paste forms, 20 to 30 seconds. Add shallot and pulse to combine, 3 to 5 pulses; transfer to bowl. In separate bowl, combine butter and mustard.
Brush butter-mustard mixture evenly over 1 side of each slice of bread. Flip 4 slices over and spread cheese mixture evenly over second side. Top with remaining 4 slices bread, buttered side up, and press down gently.
Heat 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Place 2 sandwiches in skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until both sides are crisp and golden brown, 6 to 9 minutes per side.
Transfer sandwiches to wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Wipe out skillet with paper towels and cook remaining 2 sandwiches. Serve.
Variations:
— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Comte and Cornichon: Substitute Comte for cheddar, minced cornichon for shallots, and rye sandwich bread for white sandwich bread.
— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Gruyere and Chives: Substitute Gruyere for cheddar, chives for shallots, and rye sandwich bread for white sandwich bread.
— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Asiago and Dates: Substitute Asiago for cheddar, finely chopped pitted dates for shallot, and oatmeal sandwich bread for white sandwich bread.
— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Robiola and Chipotle: Substitute Robiola, rind removed, for cheddar; 1/4 teaspoon minced canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce for shallots; and oatmeal sandwich bread for white sandwich bread.
Nutrition information per serving: 566 calories; 298 calories from fat; 33 g fat (20 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 90 mg cholesterol; 840 mg sodium; 45 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 20 g protein.
For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit https://www.americastestkitchen.com. Find more recipes like Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Cheddar and Shallot in “New Essentials .”
