Mushroom Swiss Grilled Cheese (Printable Version)

Earthy sautéed mushrooms and creamy Swiss cheese melted between crispy rye bread for a savory, vegetarian sandwich.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup cremini or white button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
02 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
03 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Dairy

04 - 4 slices Swiss cheese
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for sautéing

→ Bread

06 - 4 slices rye bread

→ Seasonings

07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - Salt and black pepper to taste
09 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and sauté for 1 minute until softened.
02 - Add mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes until golden and any liquid has evaporated. Stir in garlic and thyme; cook for 1 minute. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Lay out rye bread slices. Place a slice of Swiss cheese on two of the bread slices.
04 - Spoon the mushroom mixture evenly over the cheese, then top with another slice of Swiss cheese. Cover with the remaining bread slices.
05 - Butter the outsides of each sandwich generously.
06 - Wipe out the skillet and return to medium-low heat. Add sandwiches and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until bread is golden and cheese is melted, pressing gently with a spatula as needed.
07 - Slice sandwiches diagonally and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The earthy mushrooms add a richness that makes this feel like a restaurant sandwich you can make at home in under half an hour.
  • Rye bread brings a slight tang that balances the creaminess of Swiss cheese in a way white bread never could.
  • It's comforting enough for a quiet night in but impressive enough to serve to guests without any fuss.
02 -
  • Don't rush the mushrooms, if you pull them off the heat too early they'll be watery and bland instead of caramelized and savory.
  • Use medium low heat when grilling the sandwich or the bread will burn before the cheese melts.
  • Soften the butter before spreading it on the bread so it goes on evenly and doesn't tear the slices.
03 -
  • Press the sandwich gently with your spatula while it cooks to help the cheese melt faster and bond everything together.
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat evenly and gives the bread an incredible crust.
  • Let the sandwich rest for a minute after cooking so the cheese sets just slightly, it makes slicing cleaner and prevents a molten cheese avalanche.
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