There’s something so wonderfully timeless about simple & classic childhood dishes like peanut butter & jelly, mac + cheese, grilled cheese etc. They’ll just never go out of style! Sometimes the only thing better then enjoying the original is finding a fun way to mix them up! I was craving a hot, melty grilled cheese the other day, so I decided to make one with a sophisticated, grown up twist. I call my yummy creation the Skinny Lady’s Tomato + Pesto Grilled Cheese because it uses no butter & less than half the typical amount of cheese 😉
Skinny Lady’s Tomato + Pesto Grilled Cheese [recipe]
This classic childhood staple just GREW UP…
INGREDIENTS
- one 6″ French baguette (or ciabatta)
- sharp cheddar cheese (4 thin slices from a block)
- 1-2 tbsp. pesto spread (reserve 1 tsp. for outside of bread)
- tomato slices (I used grape tomatoes, but sliced tomatoes will work too)
- 2 tbsp. sundried tomatoes (adds a great flavor, but you can omit if you’d prefer only regular tomatoes)
METHOD
Cut your French bread in half & begin assembling your sandwich. Spread pesto on both halves, then add cheese & tomatoes.
Press sandwich together & spread remaining 1 tsp. of pesto over the outside of the bread. Bring a griddle (or grill) to medium heat. Lay the grilled cheese down and press down with a spatula as it cooks. Flip the sandwich after 1-2 minutes (should be golden brown), then grill the opposite side.
Remove grilled cheese from the griddle and slice in half. Enjoy with a cup of soup or side salad.
Bon Appetite!
The Skinny Lady Grilled Cheese has so many wonderful & sophisticated flavors…it’s amazing that it hatched from such a simple childhood classic!
If you enjoyed the Skinny Lady’s Tomato + Pesto Grilled Cheese, you’ll LOVE the Skinny Lady’s Mac & Cheese!
What are some of your favorite twists on classic dishes?
This looks AMAZING.
It is yummy!! 😛
Great photos and sandwich. This grilled cheese looks amazing. I really love pesto and need to use it a lot more.
Thanks Shane! The pesto works really well with the cheddar & tomato…amazing flavor =)
Yes! Cheddar is my favorite cheese so any grilled cheese that uses it (and pesto) is okay in my book. 🙂 Long live the grilled cheese…