Harissa Grilled Cheese

March 21, 2019

Golden crisp sourdough bread coated in the perfect mix of butter, mayo, and harissa paste is charred to perfection to melt a blend of mozzarella and sharp cheddar in the most amazing slightly spicy grilled cheese. This is THE adult grilled cheese!

Harissa Grilled Cheese Sandwich | Sarcastic Cooking

There is nothing more comforting that a good old fashioned grilled cheese. Everybody can agree to that. I am about to get political here, so I thought I would open it up with a pretty safe statement.

What’s the best thing about a grilled cheese sandwich?

Is it that ooey, gooey melty cheese? I am sure the queen of cheese-pulls, MacKenzie, would probably agree with that statement. The melted cheese between the crusty bread is like the biggest, best bear-hug for your stomach.

Harissa Grilled Cheese Ingredients | sarcastic cooking

But, that cheese wouldn’t be what it is without that golden, buttery bread to hold it all together.

Here is where it gets political. I say, the best thing about a grilled cheese is the bread. You could slap two pieces of American cheese in the middle and it still tastes like holy heaven because of the bread, right?

You could even put veggies between the cheese and bread and it would still be amazing!

Harissa Grilled Cheese Sandwich | Sarcastic Cooking

The bread makes the grilled cheese!

In the harissa grilled cheese, I used spicy harissa paste mixed with butter and mayo to make the perfect crust on our sourdough bread. The slight spice mixed with the creamy melted cheese is so, so beyond!

This is definitely an adult grilled cheese. We ate these for like a week straight with chicken noodle soup. Talk about the ultimate comfort duo. I know I went against protocol and paired my harissa grilled cheese with a soup other than tomato.

Sorry, I’m not sorry. Some days you just need a double dose of comfort.

Harissa Grilled Cheese | Sarcastic Cooking

In other news, I promise to keep my “political” grilled cheese opinions to myself. Unless you think the cheese is the best part…then we might have words. 

Harissa Grilled Cheese Sandwich | Sarcastic Cooking

Harissa Grilled Cheese

Yield: 2 Sandwiches
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes

Ooey, gooey melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese sandwiched between two slices of Harissa coated golden bread make for the perfect grilled cheese.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp salted butter, plus more for the pan
  • 1 tbsp harissa paste
  • 4 large slices of sourdough bread
  • 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Mix together the 2 tbsp mayo, 2 tbsp butter, and harissa in a small mixing bowl until combined. Spread the mixture over one side of each piece of bread.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium/low heat for 1-2 minutes while you grate the cheddar cheese. Mix the cheeses together on a plate or cutting board.
  3. Once the pan is hot, add the butter. Swirl the butter around the pan to evenly coat. Add two slices of bread to the pan. Top each slice with half of the cheese mixture. Cover the pan with a lid.
  4. After about 3 minutes, the cheese on top of the bread should start to melt. Remove the lid and cover the melted cheese with the two other slices of bread, the harissa side facing up.
  5. Use a spatula and gently press down. Flip the sandwiches. Cover with lid and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the bottom slice is golden.
  6. Remove from the pan and let the sandwiches sit for 2 minutes before slicing and eating.

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