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 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 medium bunch Chicory washed and roughly chopped; 4 slices of Bread of your choice; 4 slices of Cheese like cheddar, gouda or gruyère; 4 large Tomatoes diced for the jam; 2 teaspoons of Sugar for the jam; 1 tablespoon of Lemon juice for the jam; 1 tablespoon of Butter for grilling; to taste Salt and pepper

Decadent grilled cheese leveled-up with chicory and tomato jam.

Category Brunch

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style American

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily recipe · February 01, 2025

A little about this dish

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.

A final fox tip

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!