Is there anything more comforting to have for a hearty lunch or a light supper than a cup of hot tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich? I think not!
This quintessential pairing has been pleasing folks and families for years and years. It was considered comfort food in the olden days and it is comfort food now!
Not only are the two together a fabulous combination, but this is a combo which makes for a fairly economical meal! It was so when I was a child. It was so when I was bringing up my own children an it is so today!
Few culinary combinations seem to sooth the soul quite like this one. I am speaking from experience here. 😁
You can of course make your tomato soup from scratch. Homemade tomato soup is really nice and not all that hard to make. I have several recipes for it here on the blog.
Honeyed Tomato Soup is a real favorite. Roasted Tomato and Rice Soup is also very nice. I am going to go out on a limb here however and just fess up. You can't get much better than a bowl or mug of Campbell's Tomato Soup. I also like Heinz. Both are very good.
Today for me it was Campbell's Tomato Soup, which I enjoyed in a mug. I confess I also like to melt a pat of butter on top of my hot tomato soup, and sprinkle it with plenty of black pepper.
If I was just having soup I would break lots of saltine crackers into it as well. Today, however, I was going to enjoy it with a grilled cheese.
And not just any grilled cheese sandwich either. I was going to be enjoying a Cheese Crusted Grilled Cheese. Yes. You heard that right. I went there.
A grilled cheese sandwich which is cheesy not only on the inside, but also on the outside! Talk about double yum! This is it!
A delectable toasty grilled cheese sandwich, not only with plenty of melting cheese in the middle of the buttery toasted bread . . .
but with plenty of melted and toasted cheese on the outside, coating it so that you be eating cheese from the outside in and from the inside out with a double cheese whammy!
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHEESE CRUSTED GRILLED CHEESE
Nothing too out of the ordinary. Simple ingredients put together in the most delicious way.
- 1 TBS butter
- 1 large free range egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup (90g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 slices of bread
- 1 cup (120g) of shredded melty cheese (I used a four cheese Tex Mex mix)
For the outside I chose a grated Parmesan Cheese. For this purpose I just used an already grated Parmesan that comes in the bag. It has a larger texture. If you are grating your own, use the large holes on your grater.
I used a Tex Mex cheese blend for the interior for plenty of flavor which was a combination of Jack, Pepper Jack, Cheddar and Mozzarella cheeses. You can use whichever cheese you like, so long as it is melty and you enjoy it.
You can even use cheese slices if you so wish. I like American cheese, but failing that, Kraft makes an Extra Cheddar slice here in Canada that is good. They are not individually wrapped. You need to peel them apart.
Lets talk bread here. You can use whatever kind of bread you like. I think White bread works best of all and today I used a sour dough white.
You could go really old school here and use something like Wonder bread, but I think where we are crusting the outside with cheese you want something a bit sturdier. (Just my humble opinion.)
Oh, and there is no substitution for real butter. Just saying.
Let it be noted that the quantities given are for two delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, but you can easily amp them up to make more.
HOW TO MAKE CHEESE CRUSTED GRILLED CHEESE
The outsides of these tasty sandwiches are coated with grated Parmesan Cheese prior to grilling. Beaten egg is brushed on the outsides so that the cheese sticks.
It will still fall off if you flip it over, which is why I do each slice separately and flip them into the pan individually, cooking them until the cheese starts to melt and adhere before filling.
Beat the egg in a large shallow bowl. Measure the grated Parmesan onto a plate. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium low heat. Brush two slices of the bread with the beaten egg and press into the Parmesan cheese. Transfer to the skillet and place them into the skillet cheese side down. Cook until the cheese starts to brown. Add half of the melty cheese to one slice of bread on the un-cheesy side.
Place the other slice of cheese bread on top, cheese side up. Continue to grill flipping as necessary until golden brown on the outside and the cheese inside has melted.
Place in a low oven to keep warm while you repeat with the other two slices of bread, etc. to make the other sandwich. Serve hot with your favorite soup on the side or some potato chips.
As you can see the sandwiches come out beautifully crisp and golden brown on the outsides, and there is plenty of cheese as well on the insides.
I think it is just enough and wouldn't want too much more than this!
I'm a dunker, are you? Yes, I am pretty common and I like to dunk my sandwich into my soup. It gives me great pleasure.
I have even been known to cut the sandwich into cubes or croutons and float them on top of my soup. The heart wants what the heart wants. Enjoy!
Cheese Crusted Grilled Cheese
Yield: 2Author: Marie RaynerPrep time: 5 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 15 MinThis is the cheesiest grilled cheese, with a crust of cheese on the outside and plenty of cheese melted on the inside. Can you say scrumptious?Ingredients
- 1 TBS butter
- 1 large free range egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup (90g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 slices of bread
- 1 cup (120g) of shredded melty cheese (I used a four cheese Tex Mex mix)
Instructions
- Beat the egg in a large shallow bowl. Measure the grated Parmesan onto a plate.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium low heat.
- Brush two slices of the bread with the beaten egg and press into the Parmesan cheese. Transfer to the skillet and place them into the skillet cheese side down.
- Cook until the cheese starts to brown. Add half of the melty cheese to one slice of bread on the un-cheesy side. Place the other slice of cheese bread on top, cheese side up.
- Continue to grill flipping as necessary until golden brown on the outside and the cheese inside has melted.
- Place in a low oven to keep warm while you repeat with the other two slices of bread, etc.
- Serve hot with your favorite soup on the side or some potato chips.
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