The Best Grilled Cheese!

Yes, this tastes as good as it looks! My Grana Padano Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Arugula is a gooey, yummy sandwich. What makes this grilled cheese sandwich the best? The Grana Padano, of course! It is creamy with a delicate flavor, and together with the sweet onions and peppery arugula, makes this one of the best sandwiches I've ever had.

Grana Padano is a cheese from northern Italy's Po Valley, that is aged for between 9 and 16 months. It has a grainy texture and a mild taste, and is perfect for grilled cheeses because it's so creamy when melted. I located it easily at the cheese counters in two of my local grocery stores.


GRANA PADANO GRILLED CHEESE with CARAMELIZED ONIONS & ARUGULA

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 large white onions, sliced thin
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp white wine
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
8 slices multi grain bread
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups grated Grana Padano cheese
4 thick slices of tomato
1 cup baby arugula


1. In a medium pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and sea salt. Let cook, stirring often. Add the white wine to deglaze the pan when necessary. The onions should be caramelized after about 25 minutes. They should a rich brown color.
2. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, basil and garlic powder to make basil aioli. Spread on one side of each slice of bread. Butter the other side of each slice.
3. To build sandwiches: Put some of the grated Grana Padano on top of the basil aioli spread on 4 bottom slices. Then layer caramelized onions, tomato, arugula, then more Grana Padano. Place tops of bread on, buttered side up.
4. Heat a grill pan over medium-low heat. Grill sandwiches until bottom is golden brown. Press down on sandwich with a spatula. Flip sandwiches carefully and cook until bottom is brown and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 sandwiches.


Let me know if you try this recipe and how much you love it! If you want to learn more about Grana Padano cheese, visit http://legendsfromeurope.com/.