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. oh, and i’m a fan on FB now!

  2. actually, my secret ingredient is a very light layer of Lemonaise. Yu-MMY!

  3. Lots of pickles and 3 different cheeses.

  4. I use my own sourdough potato bread, or marbled rye, Tillamook cheddar, red pepper flakes or thinly sliced red onion, with fresh cracked pepper on the bread after it is buttered. Next time, I’m going to try the waffle iron, as suggested earlier.

    I’ve never seen the Kerry Gold cheeses, and would love to have the opportunity to try them.

  5. My ultimate grilled cheese sandwich consists of sharp cheddar on sourdough bread, Sprinkle some Tabasco on the cheese before grilling!!!

  6. I liked you on Facebook

  7. What a fun giveaway… love their cheeses and BUTTER too! I love the idea of adding jam to grilled cheese!

    My ultimate grilled cheese– mild provolone, arugula, prosciutto and a schmear of cream cheese in there too… on sourdough bread.

  8. This looks so incredible delicious! It look like my lunch for tomorrow.

  9. I “liked: Love & Olive Oil on Facebook.

  10. I love sliced tomatoe, onion and salt and pepper on my grilled cheese sandwich.

  11. Either seeded Jewish Rye Bread or Country White slices covered with medium sharp cheese, slices of tomato, heavily buttered on the outside of the bread slices, put in the grill pan with a panini top to grill it to perfection – a cup of homemade cream of roasted tomato soup and I can forget the cold outside.

  12. I also just followed you on Twitter and tweeted what you said to tweet.

  13. I just “Like”ed you on facebook.

  14. My favorite grilled cheese involves lots of butter, good white bread, and (embarrassingly) American cheese because it melts in such a lovely way.

  15. Any good thick white bread with aged cheddar, dijon and a few slices of granny smith. Heaven in a skillet.

  16. “Liked” you on facebook. :-)

  17. Wow, I want a grilled cheese sandwich right now. I have to say that I am not too inventive when it comes to grilled cheese. I like sharp or aged cheddar on potato bread with butter to make the outside crispy. I also liked the idea above of using an everything bagel. Maybe I’ll try that next.

  18. Thanks for the giveaway! Hmm, I think my ultimate grilled cheese sandwich would have the following:
    Havarti and Feta cheese
    Onion
    Spinach
    Whole wheat bread
    Dijon mustard

  19. Maybe some brie and feta with onions and granny smith apples!

  20. I’m a fan on FB! :)

  21. My ultimate grilled cheese would be fontina, tomato and avocado. DELISH.

  22. Ultimate grilled cheese, must have a good homemade bread. I love to make no knead bread with a good Emmanthaler cheese. Tomato soup to dunk on the side

  23. (super) sharp cheddar and juicy tomatoes :)

  24. I’m quite simple! Simple white bread, sharp cheddar cheese, butter, grilled to perfection with a creamy tomato soup! Yum!

    Fan on Facebook too!!! :)

  25. I love whole wheat bread with mustard and caramelized onions. Yum!

  26. I also like L&OO on facebook! :)

  27. Plain and simple! Cheddar cheese, sliced mesquite turkey, olive oil and oregano!

  28. Pancetta with smoked gouda and just a bit of arugula…peppery, smoky, and creamy!

  29. Sourdough bread, brie and fig jam. Yum!

  30. Pepperjack, sliced jalapenos, tomatoes and of course bacon!

  31. multigrain, fontina, honey, basil & sliced tomato! mmmm!

  32. Wheat bread with cheddar cheese, granny smith apples, caramelized onions, and spinach. YUM. I want one now!

  33. Before I even saw the giveaway, I knew I had to chime in – I LOVE Dubliner cheese, buy it all the time. That said, my fave grilled cheese is sharp cheddar on challah (preferably with sesame seeds), with ketchup on the side. Classic.

  34. Mine would likely involve a chewy sourdough, sharp cheddar, and bacon. My tastes are pretty basic midwestern when it comes to the classics. :)

  35. It’s very simple. Actually, my sister came up with this one, when we both worked at applebee’s. Just sourdough bread, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo. YUMMY!!! :)

  36. brie, pumpkin butter, and apples.

  37. My new favourite grilled cheese is brie with peach conserve. If I have arugula lying around, that goes in too.

  38. I’m a big fan of simple! I like to start with some good, crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside bread….and then I put lots of butter on that bread, like my mom did when I was a kid! Then add a nice nutty cheese (Gruyere is yummy!) with some cheese that melts well….it’s a winner!

  39. Liked on Facebook!! ;)

  40. Some sourdough bread with a mixture of really good cheeses and a big slice of tomato!! YUMMMY!!

  41. And, liked on facebook!

  42. I’m a purist – just some sharp cheddar cheese on really good bread (sourdough, probably). And served with tomato soup, of course!

  43. Cranberry sauce!

  44. Havarti with dill on buttered sourdough with dijon mustard! Or once, on a very special occasion, soft fromager d’affinois on crusty french bread with a thin slice of Black Forest ham.

  45. My ultimate grilled cheese has one slice of mozzarella, one slice of cheddar, tomatoes, crispy bacon and a slathering of garlic aioli, on sourdough bread fried in a little butter. Just try and resist it…

  46. Also, I like you on facebook.

  47. My fav grilled cheese is pepperjack cheese, caramelized onion, and arugula. The secret to mine is that once the grilled cheese is cooked, i take a raw garlic clove and brush it over the bread.

    And of course I already “like” you on facebook! Tweeted too!

  48. Oatmeal bread, cheddar cheese, and sliced tomato. Simple and so good.

  49. I’m pretty simple… some good bread (anything from sourdough to wheat), ideally two kinds of cheese — one with some bite, and another that melts divinely with a more mellow flavor. Lots of butter in the pan, and I’m a happy camper ;-) Occasionally, a little bacon or tomato makes the cut, too!

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