Love and Olive Oil

Roasted Broccolini Grilled Cheese

Roasted Broccolini Grilled Cheese

I love nothing more than a good grilled cheese (it’s one of our lunchtime staples), but I oftentimes wish it was more substantial than just a pile of toasted bread and cheese. That’s why adding greens is such a brilliant idea. I mean, it’s really the same general principle as our Brussels Sprout Mac ‘n Cheese: using buttery, melty cheese to enhance an otherwise bitter-tasting green vegetable. Great minds…

This recipe comes from Bountiful: Recipes Inspired by Our Garden by our friends Todd and Diane of WhiteOnRiceCouple.com. From the second I held the book in my hands I was in love, because it truly reflects the way we eat: focus on the fresh fruits and vegetables, with meat (IF there is any) as just an accent.

The book does such a great job at presenting vegetables in new and unique ways that it just might convert even the most ardent veggie-haters. Our neighbor, who is always quick to gobble up our desserts but typically gives our dinner choices the side-eye, flipped through this book, exclaiming, “I’d eat that!” on just about every recipe. Granted, it still might take a bit of convincing to get him to eat this sandwich (broccoli is, perhaps, his arch-nemesis), but recipes like Creamed Haricots Verts with Toasted Almonds and Seared Ginger Carrots with Thyme and Shallots would be a good start.

Baby steps, right?

Broccolini Stalsks

Rather than broccoli as called for in the original recipe, we used broccolini (often called baby broccoli, it’s a hybrid between regular and Chinese broccoli). The stalks and florets are more tender and, while we only used the florets here, don’t waste the stalks: slice them up and roast them too.

Sweet Valley Farm Buttermilk Cheddar

I’d been looking for the perfect excuse to use this special cheese: Buttermilk cheddar from local Sweet Valley Farm. It’s the secret ingredient in the Buttermilk Cheddar Mac and Cheese at Silo that I so totally failed to recreate. Turns out adding buttermilk to mac and cheese is a quick way to make a horribly chunky mess.

But the buttermilk cheddar, on the other hand, is delightful in every sense of the word. It’s a mild white cheddar with a perfect melting consistency for the ultimate grilled cheese.

"Bountiful" Cookbook by Todd Porter and Diane Cu

Pictures do not do this book justice. It’s a cookbook and coffee table book in one, as large and substantial in size as it is in content. If I had had a stack of post-its handy when I flipped through it the first time, it’d look like a forest of pale yellow sticking out of the pages. We’ve already made two recipes from the book, including a baked potato topped with goat cheese creamed swiss chard (WHAT?) and have plans to, more or less, cook our way through the entire thing.

But seriously, you want to own a copy of this book. Be sure to click through for the recipe and a chance to win just that!

Roasted Broccolini Grilled Cheese

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Ingredients:

  • Florets from 1 bunch broccolini or broccoli (about 1/2 pound), chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • Unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 to 8 slices bread
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded or thinly sliced

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. On a sheet pan, toss broccolini with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 6 to 8 minutes (slightly longer if using regular broccoli), or until tender and vibrant green. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
  3. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  4. Assemble sandwiches by layering cheese, roasted broccolini, and more cheese on slices of bread. Using two layers of cheese with the broccolini in the middle will keep the small pieces in place as the cheese melts. Top each sandwich with another slice of bread, then generously butter top of sandwich.
  5. Arrange sandwiches in skillet, buttered side down. Generously spread remaining butter on other side of sandwiches now on top. Toast sandwiches, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Recipe from Bountiful: Recipes Inspired by Our Garden by WhiteOnRiceCouple.com.

All images and text © / Love & Olive Oil

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314 Comments

  1. I love pineapple and cheddar cheese!

  2. Okay, my favorite grilled cheese is  a throwback to childhood – American cheese on white bread – and tastes the best when my Mom makes it. 

  3. My favorite grilled cheese is not necessarily inventive, but it is so good! I love goat cheese and strawberry (or other jam) grilled cheese!

  4. Pepper jack cheese & hot sauce 

  5. Caprese grilled cheese with lots of pesto

  6. My favorite grilled cheese combo is apple with brie and rosemary pesto.

  7. I follow Love & Olive Oil and White on Rice on Pinterest. My user name is Felicia LeWinter 

  8. I like to add tomato and spinach (or maybe arugula). I tend to use monterey jack, Swiss or mozzarella cheese. It’s not unique, but I like to keep it simple.  

  9. I subscribe to L&OO!

  10. My husband is the grilled cheese king in our house. He uses three different cheeses, thick sliced bread and sprinkles Parmesan on the outside of the bread as it is grilling in buttery deliciousness.  Best comfort food, ever!

  11. I love grilled cheese with jam!

  12. I Follow both Love & Olive Oil and White on Rice Couple on Pinterest as Barbara Bradford.

  13. I Follow @loveandoliveoil and @WhiteOnRice on twitter and just Tweeted about the giveaway !!

  14. I Subscribe to Love & Olive Oil!

  15. I haven’t really tried many unique grilled cheese recipes- maybe this should be my first!

  16. My favorite grilled cheese is made with a mild cheddar between two pieces of French or sourdough bread. Thanks for the chance to win!

  17. I am already subscribed to your emails.

  18. I know it is weird, but my favorite grilled cheese combination is sharp cheese and creamed corn – it has a salty and sweet flavor, which I love. 

  19. My recent favorite grilled cheese adds sauerkraut and thousand-island dressing. Bonus: most greasy diners without much of a vegetarian menu can still make this!

  20. My favorite grilled cheese mozzarella cheese with pesto inside. So good!

  21. I already follow @loveandoliveoil and now I follow @WhiteOnRice. Twitter handle: purpletiger425; email: [email protected]

  22. I subscribe to Love and Olive Oil by email; [email protected]

  23. I love grilled chicken breast, smoked mozzerella, tomatoes, and pesto on foccaia bread. Ooey, gooey deliciousness.

  24. I know it is not original but it is what I go to time and again.
    Mozarella cheese and Italian bread and a slice of tomato and oregano and Canadian Bacon. It makes the house smell so good.

  25. I also subscribed!

  26. my fav grilled cheese is provolone and apple slices with a balsamic glaze!

  27. I love my grilled cheese with gouda, tomato, and avocado!

  28. I love a classic pesto grilled cheese!

  29. Even though it may not be considered unique, my favorite grilled cheese is a Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese with shredded buffalo chicken, celery bits, blue cheese crumbles, sharp cheddar, and sometimes I even amp up the spicyness with pickled jalapenos! I’m a glutton for punishment as you can see! :)

  30. I follow you both on IG
    username: averie

  31. In my cookbook I have recipe for a PB/apple/brie grilled cheese and I love that thing!

  32. I follow Love & Olive Oil and White On Rice Couple on Twitter. (@Flavias_Flavors)

  33. I follow White On Rice Couple and Love & Olive Oil on Pinterest. My Pinterest username: http://www.pinterest.com/flaviascalzitti/boards/

  34. My recent favorite grilled cheese recipe is thinly sliced black forest ham, spicy mustard, havarti cheese and balsamic caramelized onions between sourdough bread. It’s incredible!

  35. I love using waffles and spread on pepper jelly, cream cheese then adding some cheddar and Virginia ham.

  36. I never liked grilled cheese until I had one made with a mixed whole-grain bread loaded with roasted beets and goat cheese… YUM!

  37. Egg yolk, pasterma grilled goat cheese in thick pita.

  38. Not very unique…but oh soooo good. I love pepper bacon with pepper jack cheese on homemade whole wheat honey bread for my grilled cheese sandwich…I want some NOW!

  39. I follow both you and Diane & Todd on Pinterest. My user name is pantrydreams.

  40. I follow both you and Diane & Todd on Twitter and I tweeted: https://twitter.com/PantryDreams/status/396359380578222080

  41. I subscribe!

  42. I love spinach, garlic, artichoke grilled cheese!

  43. my favorite variation on a classic grilled cheese is to add sliced avocado, it just takes that melty goodness to an extra creamy level!

  44. I also already follow both of you on pinterest.

  45. My favorite is just a plain old, no-frills grilled cheese!

  46. I follow both of you on twitter, and I shared that tweet

  47. I just subscribed to your monthly newsletter.

  48. Far and away, my favorite grilled cheese has sharp cheddar, bacon, tomato & avocado on some of my freshly made country bread. I also tend to broil my sandwich open-faced instead of strictly grilling it… There’s just so much on it, grilling is a bit of a risk :)

  49. Favorite grilled cheese combo is smoked Gouda with carmelized onions. But that buttermilk cheddar sounds delicious!

  50. Grilled cheese to me is all about the bread. I love a crusty, hearty, multigrain bread!

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