"Grilled Cheese" - but taking it to the next level
The best part of this recipe is the texture. The bread is crispy and golden on the outside, while the inside hides melted cheese, fragrant pesto, and creamy tomato sauce. When you cut the sandwich in half, the cheese gently stretches, the sauce stays juicy, and the pesto brings all the flavors together into a harmonious whole. These are the top features:
- Preparation is quick, 10 minutes, and easy, making it perfect for beginners.
- It is a great choice for a meatless meal.
- Excellent for a snack, picnic, or quick weekday meal.
- Simple ingredients: all you need is bread, pesto, cheese, tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil.
- A flexible recipe: you can use different types of bread, add more cheese, spicy seasonings, or fresh basil.
Top 5 tips and tricks
Follow these five tips to make sure the recipe turns out perfectly every time.
- Use good bread – The bread holds everything together, so choosing a quality loaf is key. In this case, we prefer sourdough bread or bread with a good, crispy crust, as toast bread would not be the best choice.
- Make sure the tomato sauce is thick – If the sauce is too runny, the bread will become soft. Cook the tomatoes until the liquid reduces and the sauce becomes creamy. This way, the sandwich will be juicy but not soggy.
- Do not overdo the pesto – Pesto has a strong flavor, so one heaping teaspoon is enough. Make it at home or use your favorite store-bought pesto.
- Cook over medium heat – If the pan is too hot, the bread will burn before the cheese has a chance to melt. Medium heat is the best choice, as it allows the bread to toast slowly while the inside warms through beautifully.
- Choose the right cheese – Use a cheese that melts well, and make sure not to use too little. For this recipe, we chose Jošt toast cheese slices, which are slightly thicker and have a mild flavor. A good choice would be Gouda, Edam or Cheddar.
Storing
We do not recommend storing the fully assembled sandwich. However, you can store the tomato sauce separately and use it when making a sandwich, another sauce, or pizza. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How to make Pesto Tomato Grilled Cheese at home (video)
Check this short video to make Pesto Tomato Grilled Cheese at home.
Next, try these sandwich recipes
- Whipped Tomato Ricotta Toast
- Vegan Chickpea Salad Sandwich
- Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
- Tuna, Tomato, Cucumber Tramezzini
- Crispy Chicken Burger
- Caprese Sandwich
METHOD
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sauce
Place a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and thinly sliced garlic. Sauté for one minute, then add the basil and passata. Cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until a thick sauce forms. Transfer the tomato sauce to a plate, add the chopped tomato, and stir to combine. Set aside.
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sandwich
Spread the Genovese pesto over four slices of bread. Add the tomato sauce and spread it evenly across the entire length of each slice. For each sandwich, use three slices of cheese. Stack them on top of one another and cut them in half, then arrange them evenly over the bread so they slightly overlap. Top with the remaining slices of bread.
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toast
Add a little oil to a pan and place it over medium heat. Add the sandwich and toast until the outside is beautifully golden and the cheese has melted. While cooking, gently press down on the sandwich with a spatula. Remove from the pan and serve as soon as possible.
