Description
A gourmet twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich, featuring creamy brie, fresh blackberries cooked in a balsamic honey reduction, and rustic bread toasted to golden perfection. This Blackberry Balsamic & Brie Grilled Cheese offers a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Butter
- 4 slices of rustic bread (such as sourdough or ciabatta)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Filling
- 6 ounces brie cheese, rind removed, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh blackberries
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Skillet: Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat to prepare for toasting the sandwiches evenly.
- Make Blackberry Balsamic Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine fresh blackberries, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook over medium heat, gently crushing the berries with a spoon or fork until the mixture thickens and becomes syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Bread: Spread softened unsalted butter evenly on one side of each slice of rustic bread.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Layer the thinly sliced brie cheese evenly over the unbuttered side of each slice.
- Add Sauce: Spoon the prepared blackberry balsamic mixture over the brie cheese, ensuring even distribution for a balanced flavor.
- Top Sandwiches: Place the remaining two slices of bread on top, buttered side up, to complete the sandwiches.
- Cook Sandwiches: Place sandwiches on the preheated skillet or griddle. Cook each side for about 3-4 minutes until the bread turns golden brown and the brie melts. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning.
- Serve: Remove the sandwiches from the skillet once cooked. Let them cool slightly, then slice each sandwich in half.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can substitute rustic bread with any sturdy bread like multigrain or French bread if preferred.
- Removing the rind from the brie helps the cheese melt more uniformly and prevents bitterness.
- Adjust the amount of honey in the balsamic sauce to taste if you prefer it more or less sweet.
- For a vegetarian option, ensure the bread and butter are free from animal-derived ingredients beyond dairy.
- Fresh basil garnish is optional but adds a fragrant herbal note that complements the sweet and tangy flavors.
