Jalapeño Havarti Grilled Cheese (Printable)

A spicy grilled cheese with creamy Havarti and jalapeño slices, served between golden, crispy sourdough bread.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country white bread

→ Dairy

02 - 4 oz Havarti cheese, sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced with seeds removed for reduced heat

→ Optional

05 - 1 tablespoon mayonnaise for enhanced crispiness

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat until evenly warmed.
02 - Butter one side of each bread slice evenly. Optionally, spread mayonnaise on the inside of each slice for richer flavor.
03 - Place two bread slices, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Layer Havarti cheese and distribute jalapeño slices evenly over cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, buttered side facing outward.
04 - Place sandwiches onto hot skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with spatula, until bread is golden brown and cheese is fully melted.
05 - Remove from skillet, let cool for 1 minute, slice diagonally, and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Havarti melts into this incredible silkiness that tames the jalapeño heat just enough
  • Buttering the outside instead of inside creates the most gorgeous golden crunch
  • Ready in under 20 minutes but tastes like something from a fancy diner
02 -
  • Medium-low heat is better than high, giving the cheese time to melt before the bread burns
  • Dont press too hard with the spatula or youll squeeze out all that glorious melted cheese
  • Fresh jalapeños have better flavor and crunch than pickled ones for this recipe
03 -
  • Let your cheese come to room temperature before assembling for faster, more even melting
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat perfectly for that golden crunch
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