Margherita Pizza Grilled Cheese
Call me a grilled cheese purist, but I’m a firm believer that a grilled cheese is only considered a grilled cheese if it contains cheese and bread, and nothing else. That’s it, plain and simple. No meat, sauces, veggies or anything additional added or else you can just call it a panini!
That being said, sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants and a craving hits. Enter this craving I had the other day for a grilled cheese, but not just any grilled cheese: a Margherita pizza inspired grilled cheese.
While this grilled cheese may loosely fit into my definition of a true grilled cheese, I kind of don’t care on account of it being so utterly delicious. We’re talking sturdy, Ina Garten approved, “good” white bread, creamy and garlicky pesto on one side, zesty and bold marinara on the other with a thick layer of melty, fresh mozzarella and a few leaves of fresh basil.
All combined, it makes for a toasty, crunchy grilled cheese that’s reminiscent of a classic Margherita pizza. It’s simple yet elevated and sure to satisfy your grilled cheese cravings.
Margherita Pizza Grilled Cheese
Makes 4 grilled cheese sandwiches
Ingredients
8 slices “good” white bread (do the Ina Garten test)
Store-bought pesto #StoreboughtIsFine
Marinara sauce (better go with Rao’s on this one, or else!)
16 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
Fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Lay out 8 slices of bread on a cutting board. Spread a healthy layer of pesto four slices of bread. Spread a healthy layer of marinara over remaining slices of bread. Lay mozzarella slices on pesto slices of bread followed by a few basil leaves. Sandwich marinara side on top of pesto side of bread.
Melt butter over medium heat on a skillet or flat top grill. Cook sandwiches for about 3-4 minutes a side until golden brown and toasty and cheese is melty. Remove from heat, cut in half and enjoy.
