Inspired by the Movie "Chef" - Here's My Version of Grilled Cheese with Homemade Salsa

Have you watched the movie Chef? It's about a restaurant chef losing his job and started the food truck business, plus the life story behind of course. You'll find lots of local goodies throughout the movie such as the all time favorite grilled cheese, Cuban sandwich, beignet, Texas style barbecue, and more. 

The movie makes viewers mouth-watering and craving to get a hold of one of these foods on the screen. There's not really a grilled cheese sandwich specialty here in Taiwan. So what should I do? Roll up the sleeves, I'm going to make my own version of grilled cheese, salsa style!

Grilled cheese sandwich with homemade salsa -

Ingredients (for one)?

• 2 slices of milk toast
• 2 tablespoons/about 20 grams of unsalted butter
• 2 Cheddar cheese squares
• 2 Emmental cheese squares
• 2 Gouda cheese squares
• Some homemade salsa

How?

I've got some leftover salsa from a small house gathering. It's a simplified version of salsa, which is very easy to make. Basic ingredients including a couple of ripe tomatoes, 1/2 onion, some jalapeno or red chilies if preferred, some cilantro, 1/2 lime, salt, and black pepper. Dice all the ingredients and mix together, adjust the taste with salt and lime juice. 

I'll remember to post an updated salsa recipe in the future, the one currently on my blog was back in 2008 and definitely needs to be revamped.

Brush all the semi-melted butter on one side of the milk toasts. Sear the toasts buttered side down with a non-stick skillet or cast iron pan. Evenly layer the cheese squares on each toast, I put the Emmental first, followed by Gouda, and finally Cheddar, but it shouldn't make too much difference just the color presentation looks better this way (white - yellow - white).

Use medium low heat if you're uncertain if the toasts will burn without the cheese melting at all. Once the cheese melts a little on the edges, scoop in some salsa onto one of the toasts. Use a spatula and gently lift up the toasts to check on the color. If it's turning brownish then flip the toast onto the one with salsa, do not press it down. 

This step is not required: You can even add a little more butter to the skillet and gently lift up the sandwich to sear all four sides, but it does require some skills without having the salsa fall off. 

Carefully remove the grilled cheese away from heat and cut in half before serving. You'll know the sandwich is a success when the knife runs down the bread hearing that crunchy sound, and of course the lusciously melting, oozing cheese.

Next time let me make a peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese sandwich. My mouth is watering just visualizing this idea. 

Other sandwich and light burger recipes:

• Japanese style corn and ham sandwich
• Smoked ham sandwich with aioli
• Brioche burger with seared tuna and Sriracha uni sauce
• Turkey burger with two cheeses, sunny side up egg, baby greens, and broiled tomatoes