TomatoMania & SippitySup. Peanut Butter & Jelly. Milk & Cookies. Rice & Beans. Eggs & Bacon... Tomato & Basil.
Some phrases are just meant to go together. That's what the ampersand was invented for.
For today's TomatoMania I am going to take my favorite of the ampersand food pairings, Tomato & Basil, and create a sandwich. A Grilled Cheese Sandwich. With Gouda. Melted Gouda. I have always said that a grilled cheese sandwich was the way to any man's heart and can save all damsels from distress!
Because everyone loves a grilled cheese sandwich– even vegans. Why else would they invent "fake" foods and give them cheesy names? Tofutti, Cheezly and Scheese?? Aren't those name just too precious?... I think the zany names are a clue. Vegans know they are missing out on something special when it comes to a grilled cheese sandwich. That's the only way to explain those names...
The wonderful thing about this sandwich is you don't need any special skills to make it.
Bread. Butter. Gouda. Tomatoes & Basil. Don't forget the ampersand. It's there to remind you what a natural pairing this really is. Call it a culinary shortcut.
I love to make these kind of grilled cheese sandwiches outside on the grill. You don't have to, especially if you are lucky enough to have a great panini press. I used Gouda cheese, but any cheese that melts easily will be a great choice.
Including Tofutti, Cheezly and Scheese.Because as long as you remember the ampersand pairing of tomato and basil then this magical combination of tastes, textures and temperatures practically makes itself.
Grilled Tomato and Basil Sandwiches with Gouda
SERVES 4
Ingredients
- 2 T unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 sli good quality sour dough bread
- 12 oz gouda cheese
- 6 sli large ripe tomato (1 1/2 slice per sandwich)
- 1 bn fresh basil
Instructions
Butter one side of each slice of bread. Arrange 4 slices, buttered side down, on clean work surface. Divide cheese evenly among 4 slices of bread. Arrange tomato slices over cheese, cutting slices in half to fit if necessary. Scatter basil leaves over tomatoes. Top with remaining slices of bread, buttered side up.
Place sandwiches on a medium-hot grill, off direct heat. Cook until bread is golden and cheese is beginning to melt, about 4 minutes depending on heat of grill.
Turn sandwiches over, and continue grilling until bread is golden and cheese is completely melted. Move to a slightly cooler part of the grill to melt if bread is darkening too much.
SERIOUS FUN FOOD
Greg Henry
SippitySup
Comments
How did I miss this?!
I was just browsing grilled cheese sandwiches on TasteSpotting and found your awesome photo. I don't know how I missed this!
Tomatoes and basil are such an awesome combination and are perfect ingredients for a grilled cheese sandwich. Well done, sandwich looks amazing. Great grill marks.
Simple Perfect Food
That;s all I need to say.
oh my
this looks so tasty I love this combination but I have to say my sandwiches never turn out as pretty as yours. Good excuse to keep practicing I suppose
That first picture (and the
That first picture (and the second too, really) is a masterpiece of food styling - I'm always envious of people who can take something so simple and make it look so good!
Grilled Cheese Purist
That looks good, but I am a complete purist when it comes to grilled cheese. I don't want anything coming between me and my melted cheese. And that includes tomatoes. I'll gladly take them on the side.
Judging a book by its cover
I looked at the first photo and saw a cheese sandwich on white bread. What a difference a grill makes!
Always looking for different
Always looking for different sandwich ideas for my daughter who wants something different every day - this is perfect as she loves gouda!
This looks DIVINE
I can't wait to try it as I have a plethora of basil and fresh tomatoes. :)
It doesn't get any better than this
It doesn't get any better than this sandwich. Love how you combined a grilled cheese sandwich with a BLT, but without the B which made it healthier yet still tasty. And basil for the L took it over the top.
Sam
Melted Gouda
Those, my friend, are the magic words. Yum!
+Jessie
Grilled cheese = Yum!!
I love grilled cheese. I always have mine with a nice thick slice of tomato or a nice hearty bowl of tomato soup. I can't it have any other way except for those two. I like to call this simple easy comfort food with class because you make it looks so elegant in the picture.
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