We always buy hearty whole-grain sourdough bread and sharp Cheddar cheese at the farmers’ market, then come home and make paninis. Sometimes we’ll add a slice of heirloom tomato or avocado to jazz them up, but one weekend Kenya asked if we could use pickles. Pickles. Not as a garnish to accompany the tomato and avocado, mind you, but as the sole costar to the cheese. At first it sounded so silly that we all (even Kenya) started giggling, “Grilled cheese and pickle?” But then Chloe asked for it too. Never one to ignore a culinary request, especially one from my kids, I thinly sliced a bunch of kosher dills and started building the sandwich.
Well, my munchkins are definitely on to something. Who knew you could up the ante on the classic grilled cheese—a sandwich already bordering on perfection? The Grilled Cheese and Pickle Panini seriously raises the bar.
4 slices Cheddar cheese
4 slices whole-wheat bread (or your favorite sandwich bread)
2 mini kosher dill pickles, or 2 Kenya’s Favorite Pickles, thinly sliced lengthwise
1. Preheat a panini maker.
2. Place a slice of cheese on a slice of bread and cover with a layer of sliced pickles.
3. Place another slice of cheese on top of the pickles and cover with a slice of bread.
4. Repeat to make the second panini.
5. Place the sammies in the panini maker and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. (You can also just grill them in a skillet.)
6. Slice each panini in half or on a diagonal to make triangles and serve.