The 1-Ingredient Upgrade for Better Grilled Cheese (It’s in Your Pantry)

Here's my hot take.

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Whenever someone asks what I do for work, they are instantly envious of what I cook each night. The typical reaction goes something like this: “Oh wow, you went to culinary school? You must make the best dinners.”

Yes, I do make a great grilled cheese! I also specialize in crispy air-fryer fries and frozen chicken tenders.

This may be a slight exaggeration. But more often than not, after a long day of developing recipes or writing about food, the last thing I want to do is cook. My go-to "girl dinner" is—and always has been—grilled cheese.

My Formula for the Best Grilled Cheese

I do not take the art of grilled cheese making lightly. The bread has to be great; my preference is always sourdough for its slight tang and hearty texture. As for the cheese, it depends on my mood—sharp cheddar is classic, but I like adding a little nutty Gruyère for good measure. Sometimes I’ll spread a thin layer of mayo on the outside of the bread for that perfect golden exterior.

The one ingredient I never skip? Hot honey.

I was first introduced to the beautiful combination that is melty cheese and hot honey from the famous Bee Sting Pizza at Roberta’s in Brooklyn. Something about the rich cheese with a drizzle of something spicy and sweet keeps you coming back for more.

Since trying it for the first time, I keep hot honey on hand for my cheese boards, pizzas, crostinis, and more. One day, I was craving a little heat, and I decided to add a drizzle to my grilled cheese. And it became my thing.

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Why Hot Honey Works on Grilled Cheese

During the cooking process, the honey helps hold the sandwich together, which makes handling it in the hot pan much easier. Once cooked, the first bite reveals a cascade of flavors—a hit of heat, salty cheese, and sweet, floral notes from the honey all come together in perfect harmony.

Sometimes, if I’m feeling bold, I’ll even drizzle a little hot honey on the top slice of bread right before the sandwich is flipped; this creates the ultimate caramelized texture. If you give that a try, keep a very close eye on the sandwich to make sure it doesn’t burn.

I'll be honest, my kids are not fans of this sophisticated pairing. However, it’s always a hit with grown-ups. It’s nice to add some dimension to such a rich sandwich, and a little sweet heat brings out the best of all the flavors.

Once you try hot honey on grilled cheese, your taste buds will never settle for less.

from Simply Recipes | Recipes and cooking advice for home cooks https://ift.tt/m2iC8RG