Comfort Heaven: Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The classic grilled cheese sandwich gets a gentle but elegant upgrade with the addition of slices of sweet pear and a lovely balsamic cherry glaze.

The grilled cheese sandwich is of course one of our all time favorite comfort foods. Nothing screams nostalgia quite as much as gooey melted cheese, in between two slices of butter fried bread. But even though the classic is quite lovely in and of itself, we’re not against a gentle upgrade either.

This version adds a couple of wonderful layers of flavor to the original. Sweet pear and a slightly acidic balsamic cherry glaze works incredibly well with the rich cheese, the bread, and the ham. It is as comforting as ever, but with a touch of elegance that makes it even more fabulous.

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How to Make Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Prepare the Balsamic Cherry Glaze:

1. Combine Ingredients:
   • In a small saucepan, add the balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and cherries. Stir to combine.
2. Cook the Glaze:
   • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the glaze has reduced by at least half.
   • Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
3. Cool the Glaze:
   • Once reduced, remove the saucepan from heat and let the glaze cool slightly. Set aside.

Assemble the Sandwiches:

1. Prepare the Bread:
   • Thinly slice the pears and set aside.
   • Lightly brush one side of each bread slice with the balsamic cherry glaze. Alternate slices to ensure there is enough glaze for all sandwiches.
2. Layer the Ingredients:
   • Place one slice of bread, glazed side facing up, on a clean surface.
   • Add the first layer of gouda cheese (2 slices), followed by pear slices, shaved aged gouda, an additional layer of gouda cheese (2 slices), and one slice of ham.
3. Top the Sandwich:
   • Place another slice of bread on top, ensuring the glazed side faces the cheese filling.

Cook the Sandwiches:

1. Prepare the Butter Mixture:
   • In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with a pinch of finishing salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Butter the Bread:
   • Brush the outer sides of each sandwich generously with the butter mixture.
3. Grill the Sandwiches:
   • Heat a grill pan or nonstick frying pan over low heat.
   • Place the sandwiches in the pan and cook slowly until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese begins to melt, about 3-4 minutes.
   • Flip carefully and grill the other side until golden and the cheese is fully melted, another 3-4 minutes.
4. Serve Immediately:
   • Remove the sandwiches from the heat and let rest for 1-2 minutes. Slice in half and serve warm.

Recipe Notes:

• Bread Tip: Use hearty, rustic bread for structure and flavor. Avoid overly soft breads that might become soggy.
• Cheese Melt Tip: Grating the aged gouda will help it melt faster and blend with the sliced gouda layers.
• Make Ahead: The balsamic cherry glaze can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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4.9 from 10 reviews

• Author: Alisha Randell
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

The classic grilled cheese sandwich gets a gentle but elegant upgrade with the addition of slices of sweet pear and a lovely balsamic cherry glaze.

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Ingredients

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For the Glaze:

• 1/2 cup (120 ml) balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp (5 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh cherries, pitted and halved

For the Sandwich:

• 8 slices of good-quality bread
• 16 slices gouda cheese
• 2 oz (60 g) aged gouda cheese, shaved
• 1–2 fresh firm pears, thinly sliced
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 2 slices of good-quality ham
• Pinch of finishing salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

Prepare the Balsamic Cherry Glaze:

1. Combine Ingredients:
   • In a small saucepan, add the balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and cherries. Stir to combine.
2. Cook the Glaze:
   • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the glaze has reduced by at least half.
   • Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
3. Cool the Glaze:
   • Once reduced, remove the saucepan from heat and let the glaze cool slightly. Set aside.

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Assemble the Sandwiches:

1. Prepare the Bread:
   • Thinly slice the pears and set aside.
   • Lightly brush one side of each bread slice with the balsamic cherry glaze. Alternate slices to ensure there is enough glaze for all sandwiches.
2. Layer the Ingredients:
   • Place one slice of bread, glazed side facing up, on a clean surface.
   • Add the first layer of gouda cheese (2 slices), followed by pear slices, shaved aged gouda, an additional layer of gouda cheese (2 slices), and one slice of ham.
3. Top the Sandwich:
   • Place another slice of bread on top, ensuring the glazed side faces the cheese filling.

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Cook the Sandwiches:

1. Prepare the Butter Mixture:
   • In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with a pinch of finishing salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Butter the Bread:
   • Brush the outer sides of each sandwich generously with the butter mixture.
3. Grill the Sandwiches:
   • Heat a grill pan or nonstick frying pan over low heat.
   • Place the sandwiches in the pan and cook slowly until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese begins to melt, about 3-4 minutes.
   • Flip carefully and grill the other side until golden and the cheese is fully melted, another 3-4 minutes.
4. Serve Immediately:
   • Remove the sandwiches from the heat and let rest for 1-2 minutes. Slice in half and serve warm.

Notes

Bread Tip: Use hearty, rustic bread for structure and flavor. Avoid overly soft breads that might become soggy.

Cheese Melt Tip: Grating the aged gouda will help it melt faster and blend with the sliced gouda layers.

Make Ahead: The balsamic cherry glaze can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: Sandwich
• Method: Pan Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 Sandwich
• Calories: 520
• Sugar: 14g
• Sodium: 640mg
• Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 16g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 23g
• Cholesterol: 85mg