Grilled Cheese Garlic Bread
What we have here is a fusion of two favorites: Grilled Cheese and Garlic Bread. The trick to making this quick and super-delicious side is to quick-roast the garlic cloves so they are mellow and tender and sweet. The blend of cheese becomes bubbly and golden under the broiler while the bread remains soft and tender. Grilled Cheese Garlic Bread is the perfect accompaniment to fall soups, roasted vegetables and those hearty stews and braises. But, top it with a poached egg or some sliced ham and it's lunch in no time flat.
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
1 Country Baguette, split lengthwise
8-10 cloves of garlic, unpeeled
1 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
½ cup grated fontina
½ cup grated gruyere
⅓ cup grated pecorino, plus more for finishing
¼ cup parsley, roughly chopped, plus more for garnish
2 tbsp thyme leaves
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp lemon zest
METHOD
Preheat oven to 350F.
Place unpeeled garlic cloves on a parchment lined sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes or until cloves are soft. Let cool and use a fork or your fingers to remove garlic flesh. Transfer to a small bowl.
Turn oven to Broil and move oven rack to top third of oven.
On the same sheet pan, place baguette, cut side up. Spread both sides of baguette with butter and roasted garlic. Then add fontina, gruyere and pecorino. Sprinkle with parsley and thyme leaves. Finish with kosher salt and black pepper. Place sheet pan into oven and broil until cheese is melted, bubbly and golden brown— approximately 3 minutes. Watch carefully so it doesn’t burn! Remove from oven, transfer to a serving platter or cutting board, sprinkle with lemon zest and pecorino and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.