Grilled Cheese Gets A Major Flavor Boost With One Jarred Addition

There aren't a whole lot of foods out there that match the grilled cheese sandwich for its ratio of simplicity to joy. The ingredients are basic, the technique is straightforward, and it always delivers. Such simple recipes, though, are also the perfect place for creative cooks to play. When the base is so basic, adding just one or two interesting ingredients to the mix can really transform the recipe. Next time you're hankering for a melty grilled cheese, kickstart that culinary innovation by stopping the pantry first and grabbing a jar of artichokes.

Chopped up and mixed into the cheese, the tender pieces of artichoke heart add both an interesting texture and a delicate flavor to the sandwich. This simple addition pushes the recipe a touch toward the elegant without materially increasing the difficulty or the time in the kitchen. The type of artichoke chosen, however, is important.

Canned artichoke hearts have many uses, but some can be a touch bland on their own. If you are opting for a butter-griddled sandwich with just cheese and artichokes, grab a jar of marinated artichoke hearts instead. Canned artichokes arrive packed simply in brine, so the flavor is salty and mild, whereas a jar of marinated artichoke hearts is more likely to be packed in oil and vinegar with plenty of spices and aromatics for a punchier savor. Both can certainly work, but getting the best out of the less flavorful artichokes may require a few extra steps or ingredients.

One of the biggest questions with any grilled cheese sandwich (artichoke-filled or not) is which cheese to use. Particularly when you start mixing in other ingredients, finding a complementary cheese is paramount. Fortunately, the gentle flavor of artichokes is pretty versatile. Some folks like to stick to a classic cheddar in their artichoke grilled cheese sandwiches, while others play more to the delicacy of the star ingredient by layering milder cheeses like smoked Gouda and mozzarella alongside something more pungent like cheddar or parmesan.

When envisioning the flavor profile that you want to create, it might help to think of the sandwich like a handheld artichoke dip recipe, trying to find that perfect balance of creamy, melty cheese to savory aromatics and tender artichokes. Following that train of thought, the absolute best form of this grilled cheese sandwich might want a few punchier ingredients. Those ingredient dip recipes typically include alliums like garlic and onion, and a couple heaping spoonfuls of sautéed onions and garlic — or even just a sprinkle of onion and garlic powder — certainly wouldn't go awry either.

As for the star of the show, consider caramelizing the canned artichokes in a skillet first. This will deepen their flavor and allow them to shine alongside a variety of more pungent players. At its simplest, all this elevated grilled cheese sandwich is asking for are a few chopped artichoke hearts out of the pantry. Once you see how good that is, though, don't be surprised if you're tempted to tinker with the recipe and work in a few other exciting extras.