I read somewhere that the difference between a cook and a chef is that a cook follows the recipe and a chef experiments with the recipe. To me, grilled cheese sandwiches seem the perfect way to do a little experimenting and try your hand at being a chef. This particular grilled cheese recipe is a take on what is possibly my all-time favorite food: pizza!
Pizza Margherita is a typical Neapolitan pizza made with olive oil, fresh basil, Roma tomato, and fresh mozzarella. So for my Grilled Cheese Margherita, I like to use my Pickle Creek Greek Basil & Garlic Infused Olive Oil to fry up the bread. I use a firm mozzarella instead of a fresh mozzarella so that the bread doesn’t get too moist and fall apart. I used sliced Roma tomato, and then, instead of fresh basil, I like to use spinach because it’s very healthy, it gives the sandwich a little variety in texture, and it’s almost always already in my refrigerator. Plus, I already have basil in my infused olive oil, so I have my basil flavor covered!
In keeping with the pizza spirit, sometimes I like to dip my sandwich in a little marinara as I eat it. But this is just how I like my Grilled Cheese Margherita. By all means, feel free to do a little creative experimenting and humor your inner chef!
Print Recipe
Margherita Grilled Cheese
This recipe combines two of my all-time favorite foods: grilled cheese and pizza!
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Pickle Creek Greek Basil and Garlic Olive Oil
- 4 slices bread French or sourdough
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese firm, not fresh
- 1 Roma tomato thinly sliced
- 4-6 leaves fresh basil washed and patted dry
- 1/4 c marinara optional
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Pickle Creek Greek Basil and Garlic Olive Oil
- 4 slices bread French or sourdough
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese firm, not fresh
- 1 Roma tomato thinly sliced
- 4-6 leaves fresh basil washed and patted dry
- 1/4 c marinara optional
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Instructions
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add about 1 Tbsp olive oil to the pan, coating the bottom of the skillet.
Lay 2 slices of the bread in the skillet. Place 1 slice of mozzarella on top of each. Add 1-2 slices of tomato and lightly season with salt and pepper. Arrange 2-3 basil leaves on top of the tomato. Add another slice of cheese on top.
Cover with a lid and cook for 2 to 3 min or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has begun melting. Brush one side of the remaining slices of bread with olive oil. Place the bread, oiled side up, on top of the stacks of bread, tomato, mozzarella, and basil heating in the skillet, and flip the sandwiches. Cook for another 2 to 3 min until the bread has a chance to turn golden brown and the cheese melts completely. Eat as is, or, if you like, serve with a side of marinara for dipping. Enjoy!
