Blackberry Balsamic and Brie Grilled Cheese
This gooey blackberry balsamic and brie grilled cheese is super creamy and decadent. It hits the spot when you’re craving a sweet and savory lunch or dinner!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices Tuscan white bread
- 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 3.5 ounces brie cheese
- 2 tablespoons blackberry preserves
Instructions
- Remove the rind from the brie cheese and slice into thin pieces.
- Brush one side of a slice of bread with 1 to 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil. Then, place the bread olive oil side down on a cast iron griddle. Drizzle the bread with balsamic vinegar, then top with sliced brie.Drizzle one side of the other slice of bread with balsamic vinegar. Close the sandwich, balsamic side down, before brushing the top of the bread with olive oil.
- Turn the stove to medium-low heat and cook the grilled cheese until it's golden brown on the bottom, about 5 to 7 minutes, then carefully flip and continue cooking until the other side is golden brown, another 4 to 6 minutes or so. The second side typically cooks faster, since the pan is now at temperature.
- Once the grilled cheese is crispy on the outside, transfer it to a cutting board. Carefully open it up (it will be hot) and spread the blackberry preserves inside.
- Close the sandwich, then slice in half and serve.
Notes
Ingredient selection: The quality of your ingredients can make or break a recipe, especially when it’s as simple as this 5 ingredient grilled cheese. Pick up a freshly baked Italian white loaf from your local bakery (or make it yourself!), choose an olive oil and vinegar you know you love the flavor of, and go for blackberry preserves that aren’t too processed or super sugary. We love using Bonne Maman preserves whenever we can!
As for the cheese, we recommend using a mid-tier brie. Don’t break the bank on a super fancy expensive brie for a sandwich (unless you want to), but you also don’t want to skimp on it and buy the cheapest one possible. Find the middle ground so you have a nice creamy texture and good flavor.
Removing the rind: You can easily remove the rind from a wheel of brie by gently scraping it off with a paring knife - no slicing required and no wasted cheese!
Tips for success:
- The key to making the best grilled cheese is starting with a cold pan and cooking it slowly over medium-low heat. This allows plenty of time for the cheese to melt, without risking the bread getting too crispy or burnt. For more tips on how to make the perfect grilled cheese, read our article here!
- Waiting to spread the blackberry preserves inside the grilled cheese until after it cooks keeps this sandwich from becoming too messy during cooking. The preserves will warm up slightly from the heat of the cheese, but not so much that they liquify and spill all over the place.
- Sweet potato fries
- Pretzels
- Crackers and hummus
- A light side salad, like this strawberry spinach goat cheese salad
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 746kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 904mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 3mg
