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.
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Spread some love butter this holiday season.

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463 Comments

  1. already “liked” on facebook

  2. Mozz cheese and garlic powder…YUM!! That was a college staple!

  3. I’m also like L&OO on facebook :)

  4. roasted garlic and roasted red pepper. YUM!

  5. Swiss and pepperjack with sauteed mushrooms and onions on rye!

  6. Funny, I was just debating this with myself the other day while making a grilled cheese inspired by the Top Chef grilled cheese episode…

    At the moment, I think my favorite combination is this: havarti, bacon, avocado, and thinly sliced granny smith apple.

  7. I meant ‘ham’ and honey mustard (gotta love auto correct).

  8. I love hand and honey mustard in my grilled cheese :)

  9. OMG!!! Look at you, so famous! so many comments!!!! Anywho!!! Rye Bread, Mayo, Procuitto, Mozzarella and Boursin! SOOO GOOD!

  10. There are so many awesome grilled cheeses it’s hard to choose an ULTIMATE…but…sourdough, pesto, chevre, and chedder makes me smile every time!

  11. I also already “like” you on Facebook!

  12. I love all grilled cheese! Goat cheese, tomato, and arugula… sharp cheddar and turkey bacon (a little less guilt)… I love pretty much any combo of toasty cheese and bread!

  13. The most delicious grilled cheese ever would have to be bakery fresh sourdough bread, the kind that’s sliced thickly but not too thick. I’d use butter with herbs in in, and fresh mozzarella cheese. Mmmm.

  14. Good butter, good bread, good cheese.

    I’m pretty easy when it comes to the sandwich itself, but what it really needs is a good tomato soup–nothing from a tin, mind you–to dip it in.

  15. bacon, apple, cheddar!

  16. My perfect grilled cheese would be one that someone else made for me!! YUM!! Love to cook, but sometimes the best seasoning is sitting on the couch while someone else makes lunch!

  17. Tomato. American Cheese. Maybe a little onion. Heaven!

  18. the perfect grilled cheese = dubliner cheese, slices of apples, bacon jam, and some fresh bread crusted with dried rosemary.

  19. tomato, cheddar, and parmesan… perfect

  20. I’m a FB fan

  21. As someone who grew up with a dairy and wheat allergy and has somewhat overcame both, I think I can appreciate a grilled cheese more than others. However, my favorite grilled cheese is on spelt bread coated heavily with butter and of course using cheddar. I love it with tomato slices and sometimes a slice of ham is a fantastic addition.

  22. I am following you on Twitter. I also ‘liked’ you on Facebook, but I had to do it under my real name since I blog with a secret identity (the naked pic thing) but will id myself with an email.

    As for the cheese, it depends if I want a sweet or savory grilled cheese.

    For sweet I will use poundcake, nutella and fontina cheese.

    For Savory, I want sourdough, jalapeno cheddar, and regular cheddar with fresh roasted red pepper thrown in at the last minute.

  23. My favorite grilled cheese sandwich uses Rosemary Artisan bread grilled with lots of butter. The filling is Dubliner (or really any good cheese) with a spread that I make using Bruschetta (chopped tomatoes, chopped basil, garlic), chopped capers and a wee bit of cream cheese. This is decadent and delicious! BTW, I am already one of your “Like” fans and KerryGold’s “Like” fans. I enjoy your posts.

  24. Yum! Sourdough bread with a bit of mustard, sharp cheddar, a bit of arugula and a slice of fresh tomato…probably with a side of tomato soup

  25. My ultimate grilled cheese sandwich starts w/homemade whole wheat bread, coated w/butter & Baconaise. The middle is filled w/spinach, white cheddar (Cougar Gold), yellow cheddar, shaved aged gouda w/bacon bits in the middle of the melted cheese.

  26. I’m the newest fan of Love & Olive Oil on FB! (I can’t believe I wasn’t already!)

  27. I made the BEST grilled cheese recently with Jarlsberg and red pepper jelly. It was sweet from the creamy cheese and spicy from the pepper. DELISH.

  28. Liked Love and Olive OIl on Facebook :)

  29. Avocado! No doubt.

    Though some proscuitto and figs could also work in a pinch…. and I’m definitely going to try your recipe. Mmm.

  30. When I’m in the mood for a serious grilled cheese, I pull out all the stops. A nice multigrain bread (not too thick, so all the components have a chance to shine together), a light dijon mustard sauce, Roquefort and gruyere cheese, and finally a side of pickled fennel. That nice crunch at the end makes this sandwich to die for!

    Ah! So hungry now!

  31. My ultimate grilled cheese needs fresh bread, prosciutto, basil, asiago, mozzarella, and tomatoes. If not prosciutto, I’d need bacon :)

  32. Multi grain bread with gruyere and prosciutto toasted just before burnt to bring out the grains and crunchy texture–thanks to the rich buttery taste, of course.

    Congrats again!

  33. i love grilled cheese on fresh-baked sourdough bread, with gruyere cheese, bacon, tomato, and fresh basil. cooked in lots of butter of course :]

  34. Pumpernickel bread (both sides of each piece buttered and the inside of the sandwich lightly toasted. then add pesto to the slices then top with some fontina and sharp chedder.
    throw that baby on a skillet and it’ll be magic!

  35. My best grill cheese is on crusty bread with English Cotswold Cheese w/Chives, a little roasted garlic spread sparingly and granny smith apple slices. Yummo!!!!

  36. Good wheat bread, cheddar, goat, and provolone cheese. With balsamic caramelized onions and grilled in rosemary butter with a sprinkle of sea salt.

  37. The best grilled cheese I ever ate was made with cheddar, thin slices of granny smith apple, and a few strips of bacon. I got the idea from Food Network, I think from Tyler Florence. Then again, I do love my mother’s super simple grilled cheese – a slice of bread covered with cheddar and broiled open-face until bubbly and toasty.

  38. Sourdough, brie and raspberries!

  39. Swiss, bacon, tomato, sea salt, a tiny pinch of raw sugar, a bit of garlic powder, open-faced on toasted crusty bread

  40. white bread, yellow mustard, american cheese, dill pickles, american cheese, white bread – as midwestern as it gets. :)

  41. Extra cheese, maybe some sundried tomato spread….

  42. Congrats! My sandwich would need some great creamy cheese and maybe some ham.

  43. COngratulations on the win and the massive amount of cheese in your posession now! My ultimate grilled cheese involves ham, brie, spinach and apple. Yum.

  44. I was always a fan of the classic grilled cheese sandwich with creamy tomato soup, but a favorite variant on that is adding in fresh juicy tomatoes to a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich

  45. spinach, fresh mozz, and pesto OR really good cheddar thinly sliced but piled high and some tomato soup on the side

  46. I have two top choices:
    Rosemary Bread with swiss cheese, bacon, carmelized onions, sundried tomatoes, and sauteed mushrooms YUM.
    Sourdough bread w thinly sliced apples, Brie, cheddar, and a few spinach leaves

  47. I also ‘like’ you on FB.

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