Jalapeño Havarti Grilled Cheese (Printable version)

Crispy sourdough layered with melted Havarti and fresh jalapeño slices for a spicy twist on comfort food.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country white bread

→ Dairy

02 - 4 oz Havarti cheese, sliced
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced

→ Optional

05 - 1 tbsp mayonnaise

# Directions:

01 - Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
02 - Butter one side of each bread slice evenly. For extra crispiness, spread mayonnaise on the inside of each slice.
03 - Place two bread slices, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Layer with Havarti cheese and distribute jalapeño slices evenly over the cheese.
04 - Top with the remaining bread slices, buttered side facing out.
05 - Place sandwiches onto the hot skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted.
06 - Remove from skillet, let cool for 1 minute, slice, and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The heat from the jalapeños mellows beautifully against Havarti's mild sweetness, creating this perfect balance that keeps you coming back for bite after bite.
  • That crispy, golden bread gives way to the most incredible melty middle, and the whole thing comes together in under 20 minutes.
02 -
  • I burned my first three batches trying to rush the heat, but medium-low is actually where the magic happens for that perfectly crisp exterior without scorching.
  • Slicing your jalapeños paper thin is the difference between sporadic bursts of overwhelming heat and this lovely, warming spice that weaves through every bite.
03 -
  • Don't be tempted to turn up the heat to cook faster, that cheese needs gentle melting time to become properly gooey without the bread burning.
  • Covering the pan with a lid for the last minute of cooking helps ensure the cheese melts completely without overdoing the bread.
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