Recipe courtesy of Brett Cooper

Outerlands Heirloom Tomato with Walnut Pesto Grilled Cheese

Getting reviews...
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Total: 1 hr 20 min
  • Prep: 20 min
  • Inactive: 30 min
  • Cook: 30 min
  • Yield: 6 sandwiches
Share This Recipe

Ingredients

Walnut Pesto:

Fresh Cheese:

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. 
  2. Spread each slice of bread with 2 tablespoons Walnut Pesto. Layer 3 slices tomato on each sandwich. Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper and sherry vinegar. Place 2 tablespoons Fresh Cheese on top. Oil a cast-iron skillet, place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until the cheese has melted. Garnish with sprigs of basil.

Walnut Pesto:

  1. Blanch the basil leaves for 2 seconds in boiling water. Allow to cool. In a food processor (or using a pestle and mortar), combine the blanched basil, walnuts, Parmigiano-Reggiano, oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt to taste. Work to a chunky, partially pureed consistency.

Fresh Cheese:

  1. To make the fresh cheese, put the milk, cream and a pinch of salt in a pan and heat to 185 degrees F over low heat. 
  2. Meanwhile, zest the lemons; reserve the zest, and then juice the lemons. Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice with the vinegar. 
  3. When the milk has reached temperature, turn off the heat and slowly whisk in the lemon juice and vinegar mixture. You should start to see curds form within 1 minute. Place a lid on the pan and let it sit for 30 minutes. 
  4. Strain through cheesecloth and cool the curds. (You can save the whey for other purposes like shakes.) Add the lemon zest to the curds and season with salt and pepper.

Fudge Factor

Over-the-Top-Delicious Treats to Satisfy Your Food Obsession

Are you infatuated with ice cream? Do you lust over lobster? Swoon at the sight of chocolate? Here's the best recipe for each food …

Train Frontman Pat Monahan's Dark Chocolate Obsession Feb 11, 2013

By: Cameron Curtis

Train frontman Pat Monahan, an avid chocolate lover, shared with us his top five reasons for eating dark chocolate.

Review: Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert's Chocolate Bar Nov 16, 2012

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert have teamed up with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin to create the "Good & Evil" chocolate b …

The Craziest Chocolate Creations for American Chocolate Week Mar 17, 2013

It’s officially American Chocolate Week. Check out photos of mind-blowing chocolate creations.

Sifted: Plan-Ahead Valentine's Day Desserts Feb 6, 2013

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including the best Valentine's Day recipes.

Chocolate Desserts

Indulge in our decadent chocolate desserts, from cookies and cakes to puddings, souffles and truffles.

Essentials: Chocolate Basics Sep 1, 2016

Satisfy that chocolate craving in your very own kitchen. All you need is baking chocolate and a little know-how. It also helps to …

How to Chop and Melt Chocolate

Lots of recipes call for melted chocolate. Follow these step-by-step instructions to do it properly.