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    Home » Lavish

    Fig and Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Honey and Sesame

    Published: Apr 11, 2021 · Modified: Jul 10, 2021 by Philip + Mystique · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Sweet, subtle, and a little bit fancy, we're celebrating #NationalGrilledCheeseDay with our Fig & Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwich finished with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

    Gourmet grilled cheese sandwich with figs and honey

    Hands up if a grilled cheese sandwich was one of the first things you ever learned to cook! A simple and quick go-to dish, grilled cheese is a nostalgic childhood favourite that only gets better as you age — and with the help of local Ontario cheese, it’s basically the fine wine of the sandwich world.

    For this gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, we use fresh figs which pair perfectly with semi-hard Swiss cheeses. The basil provides a fresh a bright flavour then the honey enhances the sweetness of the figs and sesame seeds finish the dish adding a subtle nuttiness and also elevates the aesthetic of the dish.

    How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fig and Basil

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Bread - we love the flavour sourdough bread provides, however a brioche or Italian style bread will also work great for this gourmet grilled cheese.

    Butter - salted or non-salted both work, just make sure it's soft.

    Semi-hard cheese - we used Gunn's Hill Dark Side of the Moo, which is a Swiss-style cheese. Gruyère or Havarti cheeses will give you similar melting qualities.

    Toppings - fresh figs, fresh basil, honey, and sesame seeds.

    Fig and Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ingredients

    [sp_index title="Cheese Recipes" cat="cheese" display_date="no" cat_link_text="All Cheese Recipes" ]

    Assemble the Sandwiches

    Start by buttering the outside of your bread with a generous slather of butter. On one of the slices, layer a handful of grated cheese. We use grated cheese because we find it melts more evenly than slices. Next layer on slices of fresh figs, a few basil leaves, and another handful of cheese. Top it off with the other slice of bread. These can be assembled a couple of hours before cooking if necessary.

    Assembly process of a fig and basil grilled cheese

    Cook the Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    Melt a knob of butter in a cast-iron skillet on medium heat. Once the butter is melted, lay the sandwich in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and crispy. Flip the sandwich and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. If the cheese hasn't fully melted, give the sandwich a good squeeze with the spatula and flip for another minute or two until the cheese is melted.

    Two grilled cheese sandwiches cooking in a cast-iron skillet

    Garnish and Serve

    Once your grilled cheese sandwich is ready, remove it from the pan and slice it in half. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

    Gourmet grilled cheese halves on a wooden board with figs and honey.

    Shop our Fig and Basil Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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    Below are affiliate links to products that will assist you in making our Fig and Basil Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipe. If you purchase an item through the links, Chef Sous Chef Inc. will receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you.

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    Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Figs and Honey on a wooden board

    Fig and Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Honey and Sesame

    Philip Lago & Mystique Mattai
    Sweet, subtle, and a little bit fancy, we’ve dressed up the classic grilled cheese sandwich with fresh figs and basil, then topped it off with honey and sesame seeds for a gourmet taste the equally beautiful as it is delicious. 
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    Course Food + Drink, Main Course, Sandwiches
    Cuisine Canadian, Comfort, north american
    Servings 2 Sandwiches
    Calories 1084

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 slices sourdough bread
    • 2 tablespoon butter softened, plus additional
    • 2 cups grated semi-hard cheese such as gruyère
    • 6 figs thinly sliced lengthwise
    • 6-8 fresh basil leaves
    • 4 teaspoon honey
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

    Instructions
     

    • Butter one side of each slice of bread. Top one slice with ½ cup of grated cheese. Arrange half the fig slices on top, then 3 to 4 basil leaves. Sprinkle with an additional ½ cup of cheese and top with another slice of bread, buttered side facing out. Repeat with the second sandwich.
    • Heat a cast-iron skillet on medium heat and add butter. Once melted, lay the sandwiches in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes. If the cheese hasn't completely melted, flip again for another minute or two until the cheese is melted. 
    • Once the grilled cheese sandwiches are cooked, remove them from the pan and slice them in half. Drizzle each sandwich with 2 teaspoons of honey and sprinkle with a pinch of sesame seeds. 

    Notes

    •  If you don't have/like sourdough bread, substitute with brioche or another artisanal style bread.
    • We used a Mutschli style cheese from a local dairy, but this can be substituted with a Gruyère, Havarti, or other melty cheese.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1084kcalCarbohydrates: 114gProtein: 56gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 1118mgPotassium: 655mgFiber: 8gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 1552IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 1473mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword cheese recipe, gourmet grilled cheese recipe, grilled cheese
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @chef.souschef or use the hashtag #chefsouschef and let us know how it was!
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    Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai of Chef Sous Chef

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