For The Most Flavorful Grilled Cheese, Make It Greek Style

There are about as many ways to prepare a flavorful grilled cheese sandwich as there are stars in the sky. It's easy enough to change up your cheese or try a clever bread swap, but one surefire way to elevate this classic comfort food is by making it Greek style. This can include using Greek cheeses, such as halloumi, kasseri, and feta, or adding other complementary ingredients like kalamata olives or thyme honey. However you choose to dress up a basic grilled cheese, it'll have you exclaiming, "Opa!"

When planning how to assemble your own version of a Greek-style grilled cheese, take inspiration from a cheesy Greek appetizer known as saganaki. Made with kasseri cheese and served flambéed, this fiery food provides a crisp outside and gooey inside. This also demonstrates the unique melting properties of Greek-style cheeses, which differ from Kraft singles or similar.

Whereas American cheese is typically made from cow's milk and tends to have a softer texture, Greek cheeses are often made from sheep or goat's milk and bear a firmer consistency. As such, you'll want to keep melting points in mind for a Greek-style grilled cheese, as the hallmark of the classic dish is that eye-catching and mouthwatering cheese pull. Try combining crumbles of briny feta cheese with slices of melty mozzarella or cheddar to achieve a desirable consistency. For more Greek-forward melty cheeses, use Graviera or manouri. The fun possibilities for serving your sandwiches are nearly limitless.

With cheese being one of the biggest considerations for a Greek-style version of a grilled cheese sandwich, bread is, naturally, a close second. Put your grilled cheese into a chewy and doughy pocket by swapping out slices of a standard bread in favor of Greek pita. If you're still set on regular bread, make sure it's hearty enough to handle the heat and firm cheeses of your choosing. You can also try baking a loaf of Horiatiko Psomi –- or Greek village bread – to house your sandwiches.

As for accompaniments, give your grilled cheese a hint of sweetness with a drizzle of thyme honey on top or inside. For an even more flavorful side dish than typical tomato soup, prepare a Greek avgolemono soup recipe in which to dip your grilled cheese. Alternatively, try using a zingy cucumber and yogurt condiment called tzatziki as a delightful dip.

Add halved kalamata olives or spoonfuls of robust Greek tapenade into your grilled cheese sandwich for an extra briny bite. For a meatier grilled cheese, include slices of cooked gyro meat in your sandwiches. All of these accoutrements can also inspire Greek-style cheeseburgers. The most flavorful handhelds are within close reach when you make them with Greek ingredients.