Brie and Raspberry Grown-up Grilled Cheese

When I was thinking of “the best thing I ever ate” for this month’s link-up theme, foods that fall in the “comfort” category came to mind. To me, grilled cheese is a classic comfort food which brings back memories of childhood lunches – especially when nothing else would satisfy my discerning taste buds. As an adult however, my palette has expanded long past plain macaroni with ketchup and Ritz crackers with cream cheese. That being said, my grilled cheese needs a grown up boost!

Giada De Laurentiis has a recipe for a mozzarella, jam, and brown sugar panini that I once tried and have never been able to get out of my mind. Today though, I have chosen to augment some of the ingredients and go with a brie, raspberry, honey, and rosemary panini on ciabatta bread: my adultified and (somewhat) healthified version of grilled cheese.

Brie cheese is mild and sweet, which I feel goes great with fresh berries and honey. And because I am a fresh herb junkie, rosemary is a must in this sandwich. You can just smell the delicious, fresh aroma released as you chop it up. The ciabatta bread, which we bought at a 100 year old staple of the Upper East Side, Orwasher’s Bakery, is light, airy and fresh. The exterior of the bread is dusted with flour and makes for an outstanding panini bread.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pint raspberries
• 1 tsp honey
• honey for drizzling
• 3 oz brie cheese
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary- chopped
• whole wheat ciabatta loaf or rolls
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat panini press.

Step 2: Mash fresh raspberries in a bowl with 1 tsp of honey.

Step 3: Layer raspberry mash and brie cheese on one side of the ciabatta bread. Sprinkle rosemary over the raspberry and cheese.

Step 4: Sandwich the bread slices together and use a pastry brush to spread a little olive oil on both sides of the bread. Drizzle the top with honey.

Step 5: Gradually press down for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden and crispy.

If you don’t have a panini press you can use a grill pan.

Health points: Rosemary contains vitamin A, manganese, calcium, and iron. Raspberries are extremely high in antioxidants and vitamin C.

So eat up!

p.s. prior to this sandwich matt told me he does not like brie cheese- I showed him!

Click on the blue frog below to check out the other kosher blogger’s “best thing I ever ate” recipes.