Is this not the most brilliant name for a sandwich?! It’s created by the one and only, Joe Yonan, food guru over at the Washington Post and one of the most happy journalists I’ve ever met (really!)
He’s got a new cookbook out, called Eat Your Vegetables: Bold Recipes for the Single Cook – it elegantly follows his first book, Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One.
Eat Your Vegetables by Joe Yonan
Joe is a true omnivore (I’ve witnessed him slurp down raw oysters and turn around for a bite of tripe once in Seattle), so he understands how to create vegetarian recipes with full, satisfying flavor, texture and playfulness….like this Grilled Kimcheese Sandwich.
Kimchi is the national food of Korea, it’s a condiment/pickle served at the table. The most popular kimchi is made of cabbage, garlic, shredded carrots, green onion and of course, lots of chile. It’s SPICY! Us wimpy folks will blot some of the chile off with our napkin (or on our rice) before taking a bite.
Spicy, crunchy, tangy kimchi is perfect with smooth, soothing cheddar cheese. The “Joe Yonan Grilled Kimcheese Sandwich” also features thinly sliced sweet and crunchy Asian pear (or in my case, green apple because I couldn’t find any Asian pear).
Joe also says, “Omnivores, the sandwich also takes nicely to the addition of a little ham…” I’ll add that prosciutto is my choice of ham for this sandwich.
I’ve got another recipe in the works from Joe’s book – stay tuned for Kale Salad with Miso-Mushroom Omelet coming next week.
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Grilled Kimcheese Sandwich Recipe Video
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Grilled Kimcheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 cup store-bought kimchi, drained
- 1 green apple or Asian pear, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat.
- For each sandwich, spread butter evenly on both sides of two slices of bread. Layer the kimchi, green apple (or Asian pear) and cheese evenly on one piece of bread and top with the other slice of bread.
- Set a medium skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, then lay the sandwich in the pan and cook, pressing with a spatula from time to time, until the underside is golden brown and the cheese starts to melt. Repeat on the other side, transfer to a plate, and eat.
Reprinted with permission from Eat Your Vegetables by Joe Yonan, copyright © 2013. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc. Food Photography credit: Matt Armendariz © 2013
