The grilled cheese sandwich is one dish that everyone loves, no matter where you are from. Who can resist such a toasty, cheesy, salty sandwich? Not only is it delicious, but it is also easy to make. Food writer Tristan Lutze just publicized a secret grilled cheese hack which is simple, yet hugely impactful on the already great taste.
The sandwich is popular all over the world, although it is called different things. In the UK, it is called a cheese toastie, and in Australia, it is called a cheese jaffle. Classically, you can pair the sandwich with a tomato soup. There are many things people add in as well, like a lightly-grilled piece of salami or caramelized onions and mushrooms to add some flavor. Those who consider themselves artisans might add some truffle or pesto.
However, there is a simple substitution to the classic recipe of bread, butter, and cheese that makes the taste go through the roof. Butter is key, as it helps grill the bread, but sometimes, it is hard to spread and therefore leads to uneven toasting. What you can do instead, is use something that you probably already have on-hand in large amounts. Substitute the butter for mayonnaise.
At first, it sounds weird, but if you think about it, mayonnaise is a fat, just like butter, but it’s easier to spread evenly without ripping through the toast. It also cooks slower, which allows you to keep the sandwich cooking longer, which leads to a gooey consistency, rather than a half-melted piece of cheese.
Purists may disagree with this substitution, but don’t knock it until you try it. The mayonnaise has salt in it, just like butter, but the taste is a bit different. The next time you get a craving, see if you prefer the convenience of mayonnaise or the classic taste of butter.