Truffle Oil Grilled Cheese (Print Version)

Sourdough bread with sharp cheddar, butter, and a fragrant touch of truffle oil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country-style bread

→ Cheese

02 - 5 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, sliced or grated

→ Dairy & Oils

03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
04 - 2 teaspoons truffle oil, white or black

→ Seasonings

05 - Pinch of freshly ground black pepper (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot.
02 - Evenly spread softened butter on one side of each bread slice.
03 - Place two slices of buttered bread, buttered side down, onto the skillet. Arrange the cheddar cheese evenly over the bread. Optionally sprinkle with black pepper.
04 - Cover with the remaining two bread slices, buttered side facing up.
05 - Cook each side for 3 to 4 minutes, pressing gently, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Adjust heat as necessary to avoid burning.
06 - Transfer sandwiches off the heat and let rest for 1 minute. Drizzle each with 1 teaspoon of truffle oil, slice, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you've spent an hour on it, but your hands stay clean and you're done in fifteen minutes.
  • Sharp cheddar gets a voice here, and truffle oil whispers something luxurious without shouting.
  • This is the sandwich that finally justifies keeping good butter in your fridge.
02 -
  • Medium heat is not a suggestion—high heat will burn the outside while leaving the cheese cold in the middle, a mistake I made exactly once and never again.
  • Add the truffle oil after cooking, not before; heat destroys its delicate aromatics and defeats the entire purpose of using it.
  • Don't skimp on the butter or the cheese; they're what make this feel luxurious, and there's no point in making it if you're going to hold back.
03 -
  • Softened butter spreads like a dream and doesn't tear delicate bread the way cold butter does—take it out of the fridge five minutes before you start cooking.
  • The gentle press with your spatula isn't about flattening the sandwich; it's about making sure the cheese stays in contact with the heat so it melts evenly instead of pooling in one spot.
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