Probably the best toasted sandwich ever, and I’m not biased in the slightest. Totally.
The secret is you have to fry it – no pannini press to squish the hell out of it, no toasting under the grill, no putting in a jaffle maker, even though they have their place.
No, for this sandwich, it has to be fried in butter. I’m sorry.
Once upon a time I was so over being underweight I decided to go on a reverse diet. My doctor said I needed to eat more calories than I burned, so I researched for weeks on what foods were calorie-dense and tried to incorporate them into my diet. I ate til I was absolutely stuffed. I was fed up with people making unwanted comments on my weight – something it appeared I had absolutely no control over, and felt awful about, so I thought if I could do something, I would.
This included making a sandwich like this, frying it in butter, then covering it in mayonnaise.
I’m not going to suggest that this time, but ohmygod it was good.
I don’t do sandwiches, usually. I ate so many of them growing up I got thoroughly sick of them. I find them so unappetising now… unless they’re toasted! I usually buy quite dense bread and I don’t like sandwiches made like that. So if I can transmogrify the bread into something toasty and delicious, with a melty inside, I’m more likely to eat it.
I usually fill this sandwich with all the gorgeous things the deli counter has to offer, sandwich together with at least two types of cheese, and a lil something extra – in this case avocado, but pesto is perfect. Feel free to pack it with whatever you fancy, but promise me you’ll fry it. Promise.
Ingredients:
2 slices crusty sourdough
vintage cheese
feta cheese
avocado
semi-dried tomatoes
fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Spread butter on one side of the sourdough slices.
2. On the non-buttered side (I find it helps if I put the buttered sides together and pile the stuff on top before assembling the sandwich in the pan!), spread avocado and sprinkle with salt. Then add cheese, semi-dried tomatoes, feta and basil. Grind pepper over.
3. Place bottom of sandwich in a buttered frying pan on medium. Place top on sandwich, buttered-side up and cook until the underside is golden and cheese is beginning to melt.
4.Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown.
Zoey @ Good Googs says
April 16, 2012 at 10:28 pmHonestly, if you don't fry it in butter – what is the point?! You might as well just buy a t-shirt that says yes. I have given up on life.
Traci Sparkle Devlin says
April 16, 2012 at 11:19 pmThis is the ONLY way I do toasted sandwiches. They are so good. And hey, what's the harm if the butter is on the outside rather than the inside?!
Veggie Mama says
April 17, 2012 at 1:14 amOr one that says “I don't care if my sandwiches taste like shit”.
BabyMacBeth says
April 17, 2012 at 1:29 amI ALWAYS put it on both sides.
Miss Pink says
April 17, 2012 at 1:35 amOh YUM! I am totally going to make this right now. But you know, with what I have here. I have some grape tomatoes, no avacado, but I have cheese =D <---cheese, I haz it.
Maxabella says
April 17, 2012 at 8:05 amOh hello, you've got a new look. Apologies if it's old news now, but I haven't been 'on the blogging circuit' for a couple of weeks now and I'm only just seeing you. I like it – a bit vintage, a bit pretty, a bit study and trustworthy. All you. x
PS – I don't like avocado. Yeah, I know, what's wrong with me and all that… it's just green and sort of slimey and a little bit melt-in-your-mouth which I reserve soley for sweets.
Veggie Mama says
April 17, 2012 at 8:08 amThat is why I love you.
Veggie Mama says
April 17, 2012 at 8:10 amHello! It's only been a couple of days, don't worry! I'm pleased you said all those things, because I was thinking if people didn't like it, at least they would probably get used to it… so it's good to know someone does!
I like avocado, but I HATE cooked avocado. I don't usually put it on toasted sandwiches, but it was safe this time. cooked avocado is horrifically disgusting xx
3xPretty says
April 17, 2012 at 10:36 amAnd now I need to go fry a sandwich. Gah.
Heather says
April 17, 2012 at 11:01 ammmmmmmm! yum!
I don't 'do' sandwiches very often either, but yours sounds divine!
Sam says
April 17, 2012 at 12:25 pmFeta cheese should be avoided by pregnant woman as the unborn child could be put at risk of Listeria…
Sharon @ Funken Wagnel says
April 17, 2012 at 1:35 pmI love sangas done like this, and I would love so much to go back to the days when I was too skinny and HAD to add extra butter. Now I do it for ahem, 'other' reasons.
Veggie Mama says
April 17, 2012 at 10:52 pmI'm not telling any pregnant women to eat it!
Veggie Mama says
April 18, 2012 at 12:08 amI do it for any reason I can think of haha xx
Veggie Mama says
April 18, 2012 at 12:09 amI've gotta make it awesome before I can eat it!
Veggie Mama says
April 18, 2012 at 12:09 amI thought about this at midnight. I needed a fried sandwich so bad!
Robert Dulaney says
April 18, 2012 at 2:23 amyum yum yum <3
Sharon @ Funken Wagnel says
April 18, 2012 at 11:42 amI would've done it when I was preggers, because it's been heated, thus killing any germs. My kids survived.
Veggie Mama says
April 19, 2012 at 3:17 amOh boy. so true.
Karina Roberts says
April 21, 2012 at 5:55 amWhoa!! That looks AMAZING!! Must…try… xx
Veggie Mama says
April 25, 2012 at 5:52 amIt's crazy good!