Love and Olive Oil

Grilled Cheese with Apricot Jam and Arugula

Remember a week or so ago when I begged, er, asked nicely to vote for my rainbow cake in the Butter recipe exchange? Well, if you hadn’t heard, I won. And I am pretty darn proud and thankful for all of you who rallied behind me. (Thank you!)

Anyways, the prize for the victory, a $150 Kerry Gold gift basket, arrived shortly after. While I knew I was getting some butter (and fantastically amazing butter at that), what I didn’t expect was the sheer quantity of cheese. Swiss and cheddar and gouda, oh my!

Now the grilled cheese probably makes more sense, huh?

But this isn’t just any grilled cheese, this grilled cheese has class. With a thin layer of homemade apricot jam and a few leaves of fresh arugula added at the very last minute, this sandwich is as delicious as it is simple. I mean, it is a grilled cheese, after all. And what a perfect way to highlight the superb ingredients I was given.

This particular sandwich makes use of Kerry Gold’s unusual Dubliner cheese, described as somewhat sweet, somewhat nutty (sound like someone else you know?). That slight sweetness, when combined with the fruit jam and spicy arugula, makes for the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

Grilled Cheese with Apricot Jam and Arugula

Makes 2 sandwiches.

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Ingredients:

  • 4 slices country bread
  • 4 oz. Kerry Gold® Cheddar or Dubliner cheese, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons apricot (or other fruit) Jam
  • 1 tablespoon Kerry Gold® salted butter
  • 1/4 cup arugula

Directions:

  1. Preheat a large skillet or sandwich press on medium-high heat.
  2. To assemble sandwiches, spread a thin layer of jam on one side of bread. Top with a double layer of cheese slices and second piece of bread. Generously butter outsides of both pieces of bread.
  3. Put sandwiches in skillet and toast until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from pan. Carefully (it will be hot!) peel apart bread and place arugula inside and replace top slice of bread. Cut in half and serve immediately.
All images and text © / Love & Olive Oil

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Spread some love butter this holiday season.

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463 Comments

  1. My ultimate grilled cheese would have to have to be on a Winnipeg Rye Bread (we just make it so well), with brie, a layer of thinly sliced mushrooms, and arugula. Probably the brie between the other layers of add ins, so that it wouldn’t fall apart into a gooey mess upon consumption. (Although, a gooey mess is kind of part and parcel of a grilled cheese sandwich.)

  2. brie & apples!
    best grilled cheese ever.

  3. I totally tweeted.

  4. good crusty french baguette with carmelized onions, gorgonzola cheese crumbles, some sliced muenster, and tomato slices. mmmm.

    I think I need to go make some lunch now.

  5. While most variations on grilled cheeses are delicious… I prefer the plain and simple bread and cheese (gruyere is a favorite).

  6. I’m on my way to the kitchen, RIGHT NOW, to try this whole ‘grilled cheese with mustard’ thing. With Tomato. HOW have I not thought of that before?? I eat mustard on everything and grilled cheese sandwiches at least a couple times a week. Shameful really…..

  7. Mine would have just about anything on it. Especially ham.

  8. delicious sourdough bread, havarti cheese, fresh tomatoes, a little butter and mayo, and sometimes thinly sliced ham. oh man- dinner tonight.

  9. Best grilled cheese: rye bread, dill harvati cheese, sun dried tomatoes. So good.

  10. For some reason it didnt post – I love a grilled gruyere on crusty bread with some of Food in Jars Tomato Jam (http://www.foodinjars.com/2010/09/tomato-jam/) – its crazy delicious!

  11. I am now a fan on Facebook!

  12. Ultimate grilled cheese- Whole Foods french loaf bread, a couple of different kinds of cheese- havarti, brie, gruyere- whatever I have around the house, bacon and arugula! And apples. Yum!

  13. Just “liked” you on FB!

  14. Bacon and collard greens. Ummm….. best grilled cheese ever. Yours looks pretty good too though!

  15. I’m a fan of cheddar with a few slices of tomato and a handful of spinach.

  16. Like you on Facebook (SusanBenegas)
    susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

  17. tweeted! @amy_donovan

  18. I have only made plain and boring grilled cheese sandwiches in the past, but I’m inspired now, reading everyone’s creations.

  19. Love this giveaway!!! I’m making some grilled cheese tonight with Panera’s tomato basil bread, should be a nice variation to the regular old white bread. I’m tweeting and becoming a fan on facebook too!

  20. oh wow that looks absolutely fantastic. i wish i had all those awesome ingredients!! congratulations to you, i’ve just started following and am lovin’ your blog + delicious recipes!!

    xo

  21. My favorite grilled cheese would be garlic bread toasted with havarti, cheddar, and muenster cheese with bacon, onions, peppers, and tomatoes.

  22. My ultimate grilled cheese would include brie and fig jam yum! Also good with the addition of turkey

  23. my favorite grilled cheese is gouda, a slice of tomato, + a bit of balsamic on a hearty italian bread. accompanied by tomato soup, of course. =)

  24. oh, and of course I already like you on facebook!

  25. And I liked you on facebook

  26. Mine is peppercorn gouda and apricot jam on rosemary garlic sourdough bread. The cheese and bread are from my local farmer’s market. The bread has whole cloves of garlic which get slight roasted and sweet in the pan. The cheese has cracked peppercorns, which give it a bit of bite. I toast it all to yummy golden goodness. I have also made it with sun-dried tomato pesto instead of apricot jam. Also wonderful.

  27. My ideal grilled cheese involves blue cheese (especially Stilton) and apples or pears.

  28. Just tweeted!

  29. The one I made back in the summer that is very similar to yours- but with pear butter. Yum!

  30. I love provolone or any milder cheese on my grilled cheese dress it up with tomato, green olives, ketchup.

  31. I already follow you on twitter, of course, and I just tweeted about the giveaway!

  32. I already like you on facebook!

  33. Congrats on your winnings and thanks for offering such an amazing giveaway Lindsay!!! My favorite grilled cheese sandwich is cheddar with apples and sprouts!

  34. Mmmmm, mine is Extra Sharp White Cheddar, Maple Bacon, Arugula, Honeycrisp Apples and Grainy Brown Mustard. Yummm

  35. I’d have to say a nice melty cheese like munster on sourdough with just enough butter where your bread has the right crunch but not too greasy. Maybe a bit of prosciutto if I really feel like spoiling myself.

  36. Gotta go with a classic: foccacia bread, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with just a bit of basil!

  37. This grilled cheese recipe sounds fantastic! (Now I know what I’ll be making for lunch this week, ha.) My ultimate grilled cheese includes sharp cheddar and tomatoes on sourdough. YUM!

  38. I like my grilled cheese to be just cheese and bread, but I like to spice it up with different cheese. American, sharp cheddar and provolone with sourdough bread, yummy! I also change it up by buttering the outsides of my bread and then putting it in the…wait for it…waffle maker! It makes the cheese squish out and toasts it perfectly.

  39. Oh and I already like you on facebook!

  40. I like to have three cheeses (cheddar, swiss and provolone) with a slice of ripe tomato on thick white bread. Not healthy, but delicious!

  41. Contests on the win! My favorite grilled cheese is bacon, tomatoes and cheddar. :-)

  42. I made a fabulous grilled cheese last weekend with swiss, a fried egg, and grilled tomatoes!

  43. Sometimes the simplest things in life are just the best – like this grilled cheese sandwich. What perfect ingredients all put together. Yum!!

  44. My ultimate grilled cheese, is made with aged old cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, onions, and celery (for crunch). I cook the sandwich in an olive oil that I purchased at Estia (a Greek resto in Halifax NS). The olive oil is made from imported cold pressed olive oil from Greece, and mixed with lemon, garlic, and herbs like oregano. The flavors in the oil are incredible, and the celery provides a lovely crunch.
    super simple, but super yum!!!

  45. My ultimate grilled cheese sandwich (and I love them!) would be a traditional one of hearty bread, well buttered, and sharp Cheddar cheese. Yummy!!

  46. I ‘liked’ you on Facebook!
    Love Love grilled cheese! yum!!

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