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Inside-Out Kimchi Grilled Cheese

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Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman

This crispy, gooey, spicy, and utterly indulgent comfort food requires just a few things: a strong, sharp cheddar to play off the tangy kimchi (make your own if you’re feeling ambitious!); the patience to let the cheese fully melt over moderate heat; and, most importantly, a fast and confident flip. Consider any crispy shards of cheese that get stuck to the pan the chef’s treat. —Diana Yen

This recipe appears in our Pescatarian Comfort Food Meal Plan.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 2

Ingredients

4 ½"-thick slices Pullman or other white sandwich bread, divided
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
4 tsp. gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) or Sriracha, divided
1½ cups coarsely grated sharp cheddar, divided
½ cup drained coarsely chopped kimchi, divided

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place 2 bread slices on a work surface. Evenly spread ½ Tbsp. butter over each slice. Turn 1 slice over and spread 2 tsp. gochujang over, then top with ½ cup cheese and half the kimchi. Close sandwich with buttered sides facing out. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. cheese over top of sandwich, gently pressing to adhere cheese to butter.

    Step 2

    Heat ½ Tbsp. butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-low until foaming. Cook sandwich, cheese side down (if some cheese falls out, use a heatproof spatula to nudge it back underneath the sandwich), gently pressing occasionally with a heatproof spatula, until underside is golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle another 2 Tbsp. cheese over top of sandwich, pressing with spatula to adhere. Turn sandwich over and cook until golden brown on second side and cheese inside is fully melted, about 3 minutes. Transfer sandwich to a plate. Wipe out skillet and repeat process with remaining ingredients to make 1 more sandwich.

TagsBon AppétitVegetarian5 Ingredients or FewerLunchDinnerSandwichCheddarCheeseDairyKimchiPickleCondimentEasyQuick30 Minutes or LessKoreanEast AsianAsian

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