Ultimate Grilled Cheese
Fabio's decadent make-over of a classic American comfort food reveals great flavor combinations and simple tricks to amp up any boring grilled cheese.
Tips:
THE BEST CHEESE FOR YOUR SAMMIE: Cheddar, American, and Swiss may be familiar cheeses, but there are so many more to choose from. Try melting triple cream Brie or Colby Jack, for example.
Use seasoned or cured meats to spice things up! Pepperoni releases tasty oils that the bread absorbs, uniting everything into a delicious sandwich.
Your bread matters! Choose flavorful loaves to take your sandwich to the next level.
Use a foil-wrapped brick or Panini press to flatten fluffy breads (like Challah), and trap melted cheese and every bit of flavor.
Pepperoni Grilled Cheese
Recipe by Fabio Viviani
Yield: 1 sandwich
Ingredients:
2 slices Challah bread, sliced ½ -inch thick
1 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, sliced 1/3-inch thick (about 5-6 slices)
6 slices of sandwich-sized pepperoni
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Special equipment: Foil-wrapped brick.
Method:
Butter the "outside" of both slices of bread.
On one slice of bread, arrange 5-6 slices of cheese.
Top cheese with 6 slices of sandwich pepperoni.
Spread Dijon mustard on the "inside" of the second slice of buttered bread, and place on top of the pepperoni and cheese.
Place the sandwich into a COLD skillet, with the cheese on the bottom.
Top with the foil-wrapped brick, and cook over medium heat until golden-brown, about 3-4 minutes.
Flip sandwich with a spatula, and top with the brick again.
Cook another 2-3 minutes, until golden-brown and the cheese is completely melted.
Remove from heat and serve hot, with Fabio's Quick Tomato Soup (recipe follows).
MANGIA!!
Quick Tomato Soup
Recipe by Fabio Viviani
Yield: about 2 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
1 pint (2 cups) Fabio's Marinara Sauce
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Blend marinara, heavy cream, and chicken stock in a saucepan.
Heat over medium heat until creamy and hot, about 5-7 minutes.
Pour into mugs or bowls, and drizzle with olive oil.
Salt and pepper as needed.
MANGIA!!