- Prep. Time: 6 min.
- Cook Time: 8 min.
- Yield: 1 serving
Jarlsberg (YARLS-berg) is a nutty, semi-hard cheese from Norway. It melts fabulously and packs far more flavour than generic Swiss cheese.
Look for the origin of the cheese from Norway (I find it at Costco) because the American-made Jarlsberg, produced under licence from the home company, does not have the same quality, even though the label is exactly the same, other than the country of manufacture.
The smokiness of the Westphalia ham (the German cousin of Italian prosciutto) really adds another dimension of flavour to this sandwich. Any ham will work, or it may be omitted for a vegetarian version.
Lastly, I never skimp on the butter! It makes any grilled cheese sandwich so rich and decadent. If you can find a European organic butter, then you will be remarkably pleased.
I’ve been making this grilled cheese sandwich long before Adrian Grenier’s character made it for Ann Hathaway’s character in the movie The Devil Wears Prada. If you would like to try a French version (with an egg batter coating), try a traditional Croque Monsieur.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2-inch slices of sprouted grain or seeded bread
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 pound Jarlsberg cheese, sliced into 4
- 1 slice of Westphalia ham
Instructions
- Butter one side of each bread slice with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- In a skillet, preferably cast iron, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over high heat.
- Place one of the buttered bread slices into the hot butter, buttered side down.
- Immediately layer the bread, as follows:
- 2 slices of Jarlsberg cheese
- 1 slice of ham
- 2 remaining slices of Jarlsberg cheese
- The last slice of bread, buttered side out.
- When the bottom bread slice is golden brown, carefully flip the sandwich to brown the other side.
- Cover the pan with a lid to allow the cheese to melt, creating a gooey and delicious filling.
- Once both sides of the bread are toasted and the cheese is melted, turn off the heat.
- Allow the sandwich to rest for 2 minutes to let the flavours meld.
- Serve the Jarlsberg Grilled Cheese Sandwich with your choice of side dish. Options include Mac & Cheese, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, or your favourite side. Don’t forget the classic tomato soup for a comforting combination.
Enjoy your delicious Jarlsberg Grilled Cheese Sandwich!
