When the going gets rough, sometimes the only thing to ease the mind is a good dose of comfort. And when it comes to comfort foods, few rival the cheesy, gooey goodness of an old fashioned grilled cheese.
In winter when fresh veggies are hard to come by, we also pine for the warmer months that bring us bountiful greens and juicy stone fruits. One green, however, hardily withstands the cold: kale.
Kale, that leafy, deep green courier of health, makes a star appearance in this grilled cheese, taking your comfort food to the next level of flavor and soul satiation. Paired with sharp cheddar and slow-caramelized fennel and onion, your mind will be contented the moment you take a bite.
By Lily Diamond
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 6-8 medium to large leaves kale, washed, stemmed, and chopped into 1/4-inch strips
- 4 slices bread of your choice, I used a sourdough baguette
- 4 large slices cheddar cheese, enough to cover two pieces of bread with two slices each
- 1 tablespoon butter
Directions
Place sliced fennel, onion, olive oil, and sea salt in a medium frying pan over medium flame. Stir gently as the onions and fennel begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. When the onions are browning and becoming translucent, add in chopped kale and stir until kale turns soft and bright green, about 2 minutes.
In a large cast iron skillet or frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat. Place all four pieces of bread in the butter, flipping to evenly coast slices with butter. Place two slices of cheese on bottom piece of bread for each sandwich. Spread on as much of the fennel, onion, and kale mixture as you’d like, and then place the second piece of bread on top.
Cover the pan with a lid and let cook for 2 minutes. Lift lid and flip sandwiches with a spatula. Replace lid, and cook for another 2 minutes. Continue this process until your cheese is as meltily divine as you’d like, and the bread is perfectly golden brown. If your bread is browning too quickly and the cheese isn’t yet melted, turn down the heat.
Eat immediately, and feel the comfort flood every cell of your body and mind.
Nutritional Information
- Calories
- 214
- Total Fat
- 11g
- Saturated Fat
- 4g
- Cholesterol
- 15mg
- Sodium
- 556mg
- Carbohydrates
- 25g
- Dietary Fiber
- 3g
- Sugars
- 2g
- Protein
- 5g
YIELD:
2 servings
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