Grilled Cheese packed with flavorful and creamy Cambozola, sweet strawberries, crunchy pecans, and spicy arugula
If I had to pick a favorite, this grilled cheese would be it.
Ok, so basically, you should just make all of the grilled cheeses I've made to celebrate Grilled Cheese Month {April} like Roasted Veggie Grilled Cheese, Mexican Grilled Cheese, and Pimento Cheese Grilled Cheese.You still have 20 days.
But back to here's why this one is my fave...
It has blue cheese on it, and not just any old blue cheese, it has my new favorite blue cheese: Cambozola
Cambozola is basically the greatest thing on earth. It's a combination of gorgonzola and a French soft-ripened triple cream cheese. What's not to love?!
On Tuesday, my friend and I went to Whole Foods for their Wine 101 Class. On the first Tuesday of every month, my Whole Foods does a wine class, and this month was Sauvignon Blanc.
It was really fun and we learned a lot about SB in one hour. We sipped six different Sauvignon Blancs, and they gave us a plate of cheese to enjoy with our vino {woohoo!}
Did you know that chevre {young goat cheese} is incredible with sauvignon blanc? Yep, it is according to our Wine Class leader, and I totally believe him because you could tell he knew what he was talking about!
You know what else is good with SB? Blue cheese: Cambozola to be exact.
Every single sauvignon blanc we tried paired so well with the creamy, pungent Cambozola.
I guess my point is that Cambozola is freakin' amazing, and I knew I needed to make a grilled cheese using it.
I decided to add sweet strawberries because they are in season right now in Louisiana, and pecans pair beautifully with blue cheese and strawberries. To add nutritional value {read: veggies} as well as a spicy kick, I added some arugula. And that's all you need for this delightfully amazing grilled cheese.
To make it, you start by spreading both slices of bread with a little butter on one side. And then spread the other side with half of the blue cheese. Make sure that your blue cheese is preferably room temperature or at least softened, so it spreads easier.
Then top one side with strawberries, then arugula and pecans. Then put the other slice of cheesy/butter covered bread on top. I chose to use a panini press, so I wouldn't have to flip the grilled cheese.
I had this inkling that it wouldn't flip well and it would make me really sad if all the filling came out. So I used the new panini press I got for Christmas. It worked like a charm; however, it is not a requirement. A good ole' skillet will do the trick; you'll just need to be careful when flipping.
Just so you're aware, the arugula and strawberries add a little moisture to the sandwich so it's best eaten right from the skillet/sandwich press. Don't be freaked out if the cheese is dripping out. Just lick it off the plate/wherever it lands.
Please don't judge me because I lick melty cheese off. That cheese is just too good to waste, and melty cheese is the best. Am I right?! {yes... duh}
Strawberry Cambozola Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 slices whole grain bread like Ezekiel Sprouted Bread
- 1 tsp butter softened
- 1.5 oz blue cheese room temperature {preferrably Black Label Cambozola cheese}
- 3 medium strawberries thinly sliced
- 1 TBSP chopped pecans
- 1 cup arugula
Instructions
- Preheat a panini press or a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
- Spread the bread evenly with about 1/2 tsp each of butter. Put the bread butter-side-down, and spread each {non-butter side} with half of the blue cheese. Top one piece of bread with strawberry slices. Top with pecans and arugula. Top with the other slice of bread, butter-side-up.
- Transfer bread {with the buttered sides on the outside} to the panini press or skillet and cook about 5-8 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is toasted. Enjoy!
Notes
Meme
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Alexis {Diva on a Diet} says
This looks so good! I love the idea of savory cheese with strawberries. Reminds me of a sandwich I made with strawberries and parmesan.
Can't wait to try this combination!
Meme says
Oooh yours looks soo amazing! I'll have to try that soon 🙂
Chikako says
What an interesting combination of ingredients! I could never think of that! I love all the ingredients and panini, so I will have to try this sometime!