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Home > Blog

09.3.12 Basil

Caramelized Onions, Pesto, and Grilled Mozzarella Sandwich

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I once declared on this site that sandwiches weren't my thing.  I much preferred toast covered with ingredients over ingredients sandwiched between two thick slices of bread.  For me, it is all about the ingredients, not the bread.

I think I forgot about one thing: grilled cheese sandwiches.

Don't get me wrong- I love cheesy melted crostini but there is something so fundamentally right about a grilled cheese sandwich.  The way the cheese oozes out and that no matter how messy, you can still eat the sandwich with your hands.

I mean, I've been known to make grilled cheese before (like my hummus and grilled cheese or my roasted tomato and egg grilled cheese) but I guess I occasionally forget how amazing a grilled cheese sandwich can be.

This sandwich is the result of having onions from the CSA that didn't dry right and needed to be eaten soon along with a few tablespoons of pesto left over from the pesto potato skillet.  You could use any cheese here but I prefer the mild taste of the mozzarella which doesn't overpower the flavor of the pesto and caramelized onions.  If you plan ahead, you can make a big batch of caramelized onions and use them for a few meals (they make a wonderful addition to homemade pizza)!

Also, for an added flavor, replace the caramelized onions with balsamic onions-yum!

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Caramelized Onions, Pesto, and Grilled Mozzarella Sandwich

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ recipe for pesto
  • 1 recipe for caramelized onions
  • 1-2 tomatoes
  • 2-3 ounces whole milk mozzarella
  • 4 pieces crusty bread
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Start caramelized onions (or do ahead of time.)
  2. Brush the outsides of the bread with olive oil and heat a griddle to medium-low heat.
  3. Smear 2-3 tablespoons of pesto on the inside of one of the slices and then layer tomatoes, caramelized onions, and mozzarella cheese. Cover with remaining piece of oiled bread.
  4. Cook on each side until crusty and cheese has melted.

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  1. Cherine says

    September 03, 2012 at 7:32 am

    A perfect sandwich!

    Reply
  2. Deb (Vegie Project) says

    September 03, 2012 at 7:55 am

    Yum! Great flavour combination!

    Reply
  3. Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    September 03, 2012 at 8:51 am

    This looks heavenly! Yum!

    Reply
  4. Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says

    September 03, 2012 at 10:56 am

    One of my very favorite sandwiches is by McMenamin's (an institution in Oregon and on the way to becoming one up here in Washington). It's smoked mozzarella on sourdough, along with pesto and juicy tomatoes, and it's heaven. The only problem though is that I never want to try anything else on their menu because I can only focus on that amazing sandwich! Not sure why I never thought to make something similar at home, but now I think it's something I must do. Immediately.

    Reply
  5. Savory Simple says

    September 03, 2012 at 11:55 am

    I'm with you. But I'll always make an exception for grilled cheese and yours looks fantastic.

    Reply
  6. frederike says

    September 03, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    I just bought a panini maker,and these would be perfect to try it out! Melted mozarrela is pure comfort.. This looks yummy!

    Reply
  7. Slaggyc says

    September 03, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    I really really really want this!! I am in love with anything with caramelized onions!! So going to make this!

    Reply
  8. Eileen @ Ham Pie Sandwiches says

    September 03, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    This hot, herby caramelized onion and mozzarella sandwich is right up my alley! Love it!

    Reply
  9. Rachel M. says

    September 03, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Looks like a delicious sandwich! Making a bunch of caramelized onions at once is smart...assuming you can keep from eating all of them at once, which I'd have a hard time with.
    I like ingredients spread on bread in certain situations but have to go with sandwiches for others: nut butters and avocado go on bread (not together) when I'm eating at home but grilled cheese has to be sandwiched!

    Reply
  10. 52KitchenAdventures says

    September 05, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    You can't beat a grilled cheese sandwich! Your version with mozzarella, pesto, and caramelized onions sounds particularly irresistible.

    Reply
  11. Manuel Fernández says

    October 21, 2015 at 3:07 am

    Wow it inspired me to make my own sandwich version, congrats for the recipe!

    Reply
  12. Julia Marin says

    November 24, 2015 at 7:52 am

    I like it so much....i love all kind of sandwiches!

    Thanks a lot for sharing!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  13. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says

    March 15, 2017 at 5:34 am

    I crave grilled cheese sandwiches, and totally agree they are in a class of their own. Otherwise I'm with you toast with topping is better. I think I have all the ingredients I need to make these for my girls for lunch.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. here, right now | Food Loves Writing says:
    09.4.12 at 7:02 am

    [...] to make this and these and these. This entry was posted in no recipe by Shannalee. Bookmark the [...]

    Reply
  2. Panini w/ caramelized onions, tomato, pesto and mozz | Buggy and Buddy says:
    09.4.12 at 7:09 pm

    [...] was even able to throw together a simple salad! It was quite a successful dinner! Here’s a  link to the recipe on Naturall Ella’s blog. Hope you [...]

    Reply

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I'm Erin and this is my space for all things vegetarian food inspired by California and my love of cooking.


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