Chipotle Grilled Cheese with Garlic Herb Dip
Golden, buttery grilled cheese packed with melted Cheddar and mozzarella, with a smoky kick from The Paste Co. Chipotle Paste. Served with a quick creamy Garlic Herb dip made using The Paste Co. Garlic Herb Paste. Both pastes are made with all-natural, clean ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 thick slices sourdough bread, for the Chipotle grilled cheese
- 1 tbsp butter, softened, for the Chipotle grilled cheese
- 1 heaped tsp The Paste Co. Chipotle Paste, for the Chipotle grilled cheese
- 40g mature Cheddar cheese, grated (about ⅓ cup), for the Chipotle grilled cheese
- 40g mozzarella, grated (about ⅓ cup), for the Chipotle grilled cheese
- 60g Greek yogurt (about ¼ cup), for the Garlic Herb dip
- 1 heaped tsp The Paste Co. Garlic Herb Paste, for the Garlic Herb dip
- 1–2 tsp water, optional, to loosen the Garlic Herb dip
Method
- Make the Chipotle butter: add 1 tbsp softened butter and 1 heaped tsp The Paste Co. Chipotle Paste to a small bowl and mix until completely combined.
- Spread the Chipotle butter over one side of each slice of bread.
- Place one slice of bread Chipotle butter-side down, then top with the grated mature Cheddar and mozzarella, spreading the cheeses evenly so you get a good mix throughout the sandwich.
- Place the second slice of bread on top with the Chipotle butter-side facing upwards, so both outside surfaces are coated in Chipotle butter.
- Make the Garlic Herb dip: mix the Greek yogurt with 1 heaped tsp The Paste Co. Garlic Herb Paste until smooth, adding 1–2 tsp water if you would like a thinner dipping consistency. Set aside.
- Place the sandwich into a frying pan over a medium-low heat and cook for approximately 2–3 minutes, until golden underneath.
- Carefully flip the sandwich and cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the second side is golden and the Cheddar and mozzarella inside have completely melted. Keep the heat relatively gentle so the cheese has time to melt without the Chipotle butter becoming too dark.
- Remove the grilled cheese from the pan and allow it to sit for around 1 minute.
- Slice in half and serve immediately with the creamy Garlic Herb dip.
Tips
- Use softened butter. It mixes much more easily with the Chipotle Paste and makes it easier to spread across the bread without tearing it.
- Cook over medium-low heat. Don't rush the sandwich over high heat — you want enough time for both cheeses to completely melt while the outside gradually becomes golden.
- Use Cheddar and mozzarella together. The mature Cheddar provides a stronger cheesy flavour while the mozzarella gives you that stretchy cheese pull.
- Grate the cheese yourself. Freshly grated cheese generally melts more smoothly than pre-grated cheese.
- Spread the cheese evenly. This helps it melt at the same rate throughout the sandwich rather than leaving cold sections in the middle.
- Don't overfill it. You want plenty of cheese, but adding too much makes it harder for the centre to melt before the bread becomes too dark.
- Let it rest briefly before cutting. Around one minute is enough for the cheese to settle slightly while still remaining hot and stretchy.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
| Energy | 690 kcal / 2,890 kJ |
|---|---|
| Fat | 39g |
| of which saturates | 23g |
| Carbohydrates | 52g |
| of which sugars | 6g |
| Protein | 30g |
| Salt | 2.2g |
Made with
Frequently asked questions
What bread should I use?
Sourdough works particularly well because it's sturdy, has plenty of flavour and becomes beautifully golden when pan-fried. However, you can use your preferred bread.
Why mix Chipotle Paste into the butter?
Mixing The Paste Co. Chipotle Paste directly into the butter spreads smoky Chipotle flavour across the outside of the entire sandwich while the butter helps the bread turn golden in the pan.
Can I use only Cheddar?
Yes. You can replace the mozzarella with additional Cheddar if you prefer. You'll get a stronger cheese flavour but slightly less of the stretchy cheese pull.
Why use both Cheddar and mozzarella?
They each do a different job. Mature Cheddar brings the flavour, while mozzarella provides the stretch and melt.
Can I use another cheese?
Yes. Other good melting cheeses can be used, although the flavour and texture of the finished sandwich will change.
Is the Garlic Herb dip necessary?
No, but it pairs really well with the smoky Chipotle grilled cheese and takes only seconds to make.
Can I make the Garlic Herb dip thinner?
Yes. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach your preferred dipping consistency.
Can I make more than one sandwich?
Yes. Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of sandwiches you're making. If cooking several in the same pan, keep an eye on any residual Chipotle butter between batches so it doesn't burn.
Can I use a sandwich press?
Yes. A sandwich press will work, although the texture of the bread may be slightly different compared with slowly cooking it in a frying pan.
Do I need to add salt?
No additional salt should normally be necessary. The cheeses, butter and pastes already provide plenty of seasoning, but you can always adjust to your own taste.