Food for Thought

Must Make: Triple Decker Italian Cheese Sandwich

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 9:00am by partysugar

6 Comments

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When I was little there was nothing as comforting as a grilled cheese sandwich. Although I enjoyed its crisply toasted exterior and gooey melted-cheese center, what I loved most about a grilled cheese was the name. For the longest time, I thought they were called "girl cheese sandwiches," meaning that the sandwich was something so special and delicious only girls like myself got to enjoy them. Eventually, I learned that boys ate them too, but at that point, I was so smitten by the classic combination of cheese and bread that I didn't care. My latest favorite "girl" cheese sandwich is actually a baked cheese sandwich. With its three cheeses (fontina, provolone, and parmesan), triple decker, and slow roasted tomatoes, it's far more gourmet than anything I devoured as a child. However, it still is everything a classic grilled cheese should be: nostalgic, comforting, and sublimely scrumptious. To savor every bite of this sandwich yourself, get the recipe now.

Triple-Decker Baked Italian Cheese Sandwiches
From Food & Wine
Ingredients
8 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
2 white Pullman loaves—ends discarded, each loaf cut into twelve 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 pound sliced provolone cheese
1 pound Fontina cheese, coarsely shredded (about 5 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°.
2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the halved tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake the tomatoes cut side up for 1 1/2 hours, until soft and starting to brown.
3. Sprinkle with the thyme leaves and bake for about 30 minutes longer, until the tomatoes are very tender and slightly shriveled but still juicy. Let cool.
4. Increase the oven temperature to 375°.
5. Brush 16 bread slices with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil; arrange 8 of the slices oiled side down on a large rimmed baking sheet. Top with the provolone and the unbrushed bread slices.
6. Cover with the tomatoes, 4 cups of the Fontina and the remaining 8 bread slices, oiled side up.
7. Press gently on the sandwiches and bake for about 15 minutes, until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.
8. Preheat the broiler. Toss the remaining Fontina with the Parmigiano-Reggiano and sprinkle on the sandwiches. Broil 3 inches from the heat for about 1 minute, until the cheese is melted. Transfer the sandwiches to plates and serve.

Serves 8.
Courtesy of Yum Sugar