Three ingredient recipes are all the rage at the moment. From pancakes and ice cream, to pasta and scones, the idea that you only need a handful of ingredients to make the perfect meal is a powerful one. Often, however, these recipes require shortcuts, strange techniques, or simply fall a bit flat. Enter: the grilled cheese. Butter, bread, cheese is all it takes to have a sandwich which inspires endless devotion and obsession. How thick should the bread be? Should you combine different sorts of cheese? Is sourdough too crunchy or the perfect contrast to gooey cheese? Read on to find out.
What is the difference between a grilled cheese and a cheese toastie?
In the UK, you’ll usually hear this sandwich called a ‘cheese toastie’ whilst in America it's always called a ‘grilled cheese’. Although the ingredients are pretty much the same – aside from the American love of Kraft singles, and the British predilection for cheddar – the way they’re made is quite different. In the UK cheese toasties are often made in a toastie maker, which squishes two slices of sandwich bread filled with cheese together and seals them at the edge. In America, by contrast, a grilled cheese is made in a frying pan, and flipped so it’s toasted on both sides.
What cheese is best for grilled cheese?
The simple answer to this is of course ‘it depends’. In America the goopy texture of American cheese slices is fiercely defended, while others come down on team cheddar. Some places insist on mixing cheese. At the Wigmore they use Montgomery cheddar, Ogleshield and raclette. For Kappacasein, it’s a mixture of Montgomery’s Cheddar, Ogleshield, London Raclette, Comté and Bermondsey Hard Pressed. We prefer a semi-firm, flavourful cheese like cheddar, Comté or Gruyère.
Which bread is best for grilled cheese?
When most people picture a toastie or a grilled cheese, they think of one made with soft, fluffy white bread. This is what most people have lying around, and it’s easy to seal the two edges together in a toastie maker. However, sourdough has the advantage of having a great flavour, and extra crispness too, which contrasts nicely with the gooey filling. Either one will work, but we’d recommend picking a bread that’s not too thin and not too thick – about 1 cm is a nice sweet spot.
Which is best on a grilled cheese – butter or mayonnaise?
Mayonnaise is a surprisingly great way to brown the outside of a grilled cheese – it's easy to spread in an even layer, gives great colour and doesn't need to be softened in advance. However, it will have a slightly tangy, mayo-forward flavour. Butter on the other hand has, obviously, a delicious buttery flavour when toasted, and gives bread a gorgeous golden colour. However, it can burn easily and needs to be softened in advance to be spreadable. Which one you use is up to you – we've gone for butter for its flavour in the recipe below, but either works!
How to make a grilled cheese
Metric
Imperial
- 60g of cheddar, Gruyère, Comté, or a mixture, grated
- 2 slices of bread, 1 cm thick, 100g total
- soft butter, as needed
Spread the grated cheese evenly all over one slice of bread, pressing it down as you go. Depending on the size of the bread, you might only need 45g or so. Top firmly with the other slice of bread
Butter the top of the sandwich
Heat a heavy-bottomed pan, such as a cast iron skillet, over medium heat
Place the sandwich butter side-down in the hot pan. It should start sizzling immediately
Butter the new top side of the bread
Cook over a medium heat, pressing down with a spatula occasionally, until golden on the bottom. If the butter starts browning too fast, before the cheese is melting, then turn the heat down
Turn the sandwich over and cook on the other side until golden and the cheese is fully melted, pressing down occasionally with a spatula
Remove from the pan and let cool slightly on a wire rack, then cut in half and enjoy
What other fillings can you put in a cheese toastie?
Although the simple combo of cheese, bread and butter is delicious, there are loads of other directions you can take a grilled cheese. Ham or kimchi are both classic additions, and are best added before the sandwich is cooked. Try tucking in a few slices of pickled jalapeños or cornichons once you're ready to serve for some sharpness. If you like a particularly generous amount of salty add-ins to your grilled cheese, you might want to substitute some of the cheese for something milder like shredded mozzarella.
What should you serve with a cheese toastie?
A simple salad with a sharp vinaigrette is a great accompaniment to a grilled cheese, as it helps cut through the richness. In America, grilled cheese sandwiches are typically served with tomato soup, while in Canada they're often dipped in ketchup!
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