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HEALTHY RECIPES

PIZZA MARGHERITA GRILLED CHEESE

PIZZA MARGHERITA GRILLED CHEESE
These Pizza Margherita Grilled Cheeses combine all your favorite ingredients from a classic pizza Margherita and stuff them in between two slices of bread…
Grilled cheese month. It’s a thing.
April is also deemed the month of the BLT sandwich, soft pretzels, soy foods (don’t even ask) and a personal favorite – garlic. But for some reason grilled cheese month is the only thing that seems to be shouted from the Internet rooftops.

Margherita pizza has been on my mind since Kev and I tried out a “certified Neapolitan” pizza place relatively new to Kansas City last week. After a scant wine pour which took me four conservative sips to finish, a price tag of $18 for a 10-inch personal pizza and spotty service, I wasn’t exactly banking on loving the pizza enough to warrant a second visit.
The sauce is spooned on to two slices of sourdough (you could also use a ciabatta or other hearty bread), covered in slices of fresh mozzarella and basil, drizzled with a touch of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
The outsides of each slice are brushed with butter and cooked in a hot cast-iron skillet until each side is golden brown, crispy and the cheese has melted completely and started to ooze out the sides of the bread.
All your favorite ingredients from a classic pizza Margherita stuffed in between two slices of bread.

Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 large garlic clove minced
  • 2 tsp. tomato paste
  • 14.5 ounces fire-roasted canned tomatoes
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 16 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
  • 1 cup basil leaves
  • 8 slices sourdough bread
  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
  1. In a small sauce pan, heat olive oil and garlic over a medium heat. Saute until softened, about 1 minute. Add tomato paste, stir to combine. Cook for one minute. Add tomatoes, salt and sugar, whisk until tomato paste is fully incorporated.Simmer for 8-10 minutes until thickened. Set aside.
  2. Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle to a medium heat.
  3. Spread about 2 tablespoons of sauce on each slice of bread. Top with four ounces of slices of cheese. Top with 4-5 leaves of basil.
  4. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place the other two pieces of bread, sauce side down on cheese and basil. Brush tops with butter. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.
  5. Place sandwich butter-side down in a skillet heat to medium (work in batches if needed), brush other side with butter. Cook until golden brown and crispy on each side and the cheese is melted. (If you are having a hard time getting the cheese to melt, pop into a 350 degree oven for a few minutes.