Pear & Apple Grilled Cheese With Caramelized Onions Recipe
This Pear & Apple Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions is a deliciously quick and easy sandwich that blends the sweetness of fruit with the savory sharpness of cheddar and the deep flavor of balsamic caramelized onions. Perfect for a comforting lunch or a simple dinner, it combines crunchy sourdough bread with melty cheese and fresh fruit for an irresistible balance of textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Bread & Butter
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Fruit & Vegetables
- 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Additional
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Add the thinly sliced onions along with a pinch of salt. Cook them while stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, until the onions turn golden brown and softened. Add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to intensify the flavor. Remove the caramelized onions from the skillet and set them aside.
- Prepare the skillet: In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of unsalted butter over medium heat in preparation for grilling the sandwich.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Lay out two slices of sourdough bread. On each slice, evenly distribute half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Next, layer on the caramelized onions, then the thinly sliced apple followed by the pear slices. Top each sandwich with the remaining cheddar cheese and cover with the other two slices of bread.
- Grill the sandwiches: Place one assembled sandwich in the preheated skillet. Grill on one side for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and crisp. Carefully flip the sandwich using a spatula and grill the other side for another 4 to 5 minutes, ensuring the cheddar cheese melts thoroughly and the sandwich heats through.
- Finish and serve: Repeat the grilling process for the second sandwich. Once cooked, remove both sandwiches from the skillet. Let them rest and cool for a minute, then slice in half and serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm pears and apples to prevent the sandwich from getting soggy.
- Sharp cheddar cheese adds a nice tang, but feel free to experiment with other melting cheeses like Gruyère or fontina.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle a little black pepper over the fruit layers before closing the sandwich.
- To speed up caramelizing, slice the onions very thinly.
- Cook over medium heat to ensure bread crisps without burning before cheese melts.
Keywords: grilled cheese, caramelized onions, pear, apple, sandwich, sourdough, cheddar, quick lunch
