The sandwich is golden brown with crispy edges. Some of the gooey, melted cheese oozes out from the sides, wrapped around by a hint of dark, glossy chicory leaves. The vibrant red tomato jam served on the side adds a vibrant dash of color. With an overhead shot, a sprinkle of parsley brings some lush green, making the dish pop against a rustic wooden background.

Chicory Grilled Cheese with Homemade Tomato Jam

Name: Chicory Grilled Cheese with Homemade Tomato Jam
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: medium bunch Chicory, 1 washed and roughly chopped; slices of Bread, 4 of your choice; slices of Cheese, 4 like cheddar, gouda or gruyère; large Tomatoes, 4 diced for the jam; teaspoons of Sugar, 2 for the jam; tablespoon of Lemon juice, 1 for the jam; tablespoon of Butter, 1 for grilling; Salt and pepper, to taste

Category Brunch

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style American

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: February 01, 2025

This brunch recipe takes an American classic, the classic grilled cheese sandwich, and gives it a unique, sophisticated twist with the addition of chicory. The slightly bitter, coffee-like flavor of the chicory, normally paired with coffee or used in salads, blends surprisingly well with the rich, gooey, decadence of the cheese. A bright, homemade tomato jam offers a sweet and tangy contrast that keeps the dish from being too heavy.

Ingredients (for 2)

Medium bunch chicory - 1 - washed and roughly chopped
Slices of bread - 4 - of your choice
Slices of cheese - 4 - like cheddar, gouda or gruyère
Large tomatoes - 4 - diced for the jam
Teaspoons of sugar - 2 - for the jam
Tablespoon of lemon juice - 1 - for the jam
Tablespoon of butter - 1 - for grilling
Salt and pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍅🥣🔥

In a saucepan, bring together the diced tomatoes, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Stir them regularly and let them simmer until they thicken into a jam-like substance.
Step 2 - 🧀🥬🍞

Place a layer of cheese and a good quantity of roughly chopped chicory between two slices of bread to assemble your sandwich.
Step 3 - 🍳🥪🔥

Melt the butter in a grilling pan over medium heat. Once it's melted, put the sandwiches in the pan, cooking each side till it turns golden brown and the cheese melts.
Step 4 - 😋🧂🥪

Taste the tomato jam and season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve the chicory grilled cheese hot, with a side of homemade tomato jam.

Additional

If you want to add a more protein-rich element to this dish, you could easily include a fried egg on top of the sandwich. Not only would this make the dish even more decadent, it would add an attractive visual element suitable for Instagram!