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This Havarti Grilled Cheese with gooey havarti with avocado and baby greens is sure to make your average grilled cheese a thing of the past. Soup and grilled cheese just got a makeover!
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American Cheese is first, but Havarti Grilled Cheese is right behind it
Raise your hand if you are a sucker for the classic, grilled American Cheese. (My hand is raised high.)
But a sucker I am no more, I promise you!
I have recently started my own new adventure, possibly inspired by Parks and Rec which we have watched more times than I can count (the episode where Andy and April cross off their bucket list including eating the best grilled cheese in the world). I have started stepping out of my comfort zone of the classic and dreaming up lots of fun new ways to enjoy this sammy.
And today's grilled cheese that I bring to you is currently on my top 5 list, and most likely my top 3.
Soup and grilled cheese is a regular occurrence in our household. And honestly, the classic really never disappoints. Quick, simple and instantly brings me back to childhood.
I like mine nice and brown, just on the verge of being considered burnt. Don't bring me a sandwich that looks like it sat on the griddle for 30 seconds and tell me it's ready. No thanks!
Branch out with this Havarti Grilled Cheese
The first thing I decided had to be done was to branch out in my cheeses. I am a pretty boring person when it comes to cheese. At any given time we have Cheddar, American and Mozzarella and it doesn't get much crazier than that.
When I am feeling like shaking things up in the cheese department, I will grab some feta, but that's about as out of my box that it goes.
My husband has also never understood my obsession with Parmesan. I put it on EVERYTHING as well. Growing up, it was a staple at every meal.
We put Parmesan on veggies, salads, and of course every pasta dish you can dream of. But Anthony doesn't care for it.
He also says you can't just put a ton of cheese on something and think it's suddenly going to taste better. I beg to differ, in a big way on that. I ate peas by the bowlful if I had Parmesan on it!
But I digress. I was talking about trying cheeses I don't have around in the house. So I did some research to see what cheeses are meant to be really good on grilled cheese sandwiches. I collected several of them and got to work. Research and Development in the food blogging world has it's perks if I say so myself.
Does Havarti Cheese Melt Too well?
I was first going to just try a grilled avocado toast sandwich, but that seemed boring to me. In the end, the absence of cheese would just not be right. I pulled out some Havarti, which was said to melt almost too well for grilled cheese sandwiches, avocado and some fresh baby arugula.
The thing I read about it melting too well is a real thing. Havarti is quite the gooey cheese and I learned quickly that adding an extra slice for the picture's sake made for a near disaster. Cheese was literally spewing everywhere. So be warned, don't do anything over 2 slices.
This Havarti Grilled Cheese is all about the Avocado
The flavor of this sandwich comes from the avocado. I prepped it just as I would a piece of avocado toast with lemon juice, garlic, sea salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Don't skip this part as it is what makes the sandwich a true WOW. The baby arugula wilts just enough to round everything out in this sandwich.
As for my first non-American cheese adventure, I am not too sure what can really top this off. I may have aimed too high in the beginning and everything else will be a let down. Buuuuuut, I will have no problem enjoying the process of finding out!
What you need to make this Havarti Grilled Cheese:
- Bread: Thicker is better because as you can see the cheese gets pretty heavily melted. It needs something that can really stand up to it and not get to mushy. The bread I used in these pictures could have been about ½ inch thicker in slicing.
- HavartiCheese: Like I said, I did some research and found out this cheese was super melty. It was a go for me right then and there!
- Avocado: You are essentially combining avocado toast and grilled cheese for this recipe. So you will mash and prep the avo just like you would if you were making avocado toast. Can this recipe get any better?!
- Arugula: My very favorite green of all time. None on hand? That's ok! Try spinach or skip it until the next time you make this. There will be a next time!!
- Lemon Juice: just a touch to add to the avocado.
- Garlic Powder: Another way to upgrade the avocado.
- Crushed Red Pepper: Never make a recipe without it...
What to Serve with this Havarti Grilled Cheese:
- Soup, soup and more soup, right?? Here are a few I would highly recommend to pair with this sandwich:
- Fries anyone? These Smoky Crispy Sweet Potato Fries should do the trick!
- I love a good sandwich/salad combo so this Spring Green Salad or while you have some arugula, this Strawberry Arugula Goat Cheese Salad would do the trick!
Check out these other sandwich and lunch recipes:
-
Blueberry Basil Grilled Cheese
-
Pesto Turkey Pinwheels with Smoked Provolone
-
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
-
Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches with Spinach, Feta + Sun-Dried Tomatoes
-
Mashed Avocado + White Bean Lettuce Wraps
-
Avocado Ranch Tuna Salad
-
Vegan Chickpea & Tuna Salad
DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!
Havarti, Avocado, Baby Arugula Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 pieces bread of choice
- 4 slices Havarti cheese
- 1 ripe avocado
- Handful Baby Arugula
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- â…› teaspoon crushed red pepper
- Sea salt and cracked pepper to taste
- Butter
- Dash of
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mash avocado well. Stir in lemon juice, garlic powder, red pepper, salt and pepper. Adjust seasoning to desired taste.
- Spread butter or ghee on each slice of bread.
- Heat a skillet to medium and place two of the pieces of bread, butter side down.
- Layer two slices of cheese, spread half of the avocado mixture on top of that and then put half of the arugula on that. Add other slice of bread on top.
- Cook until bread becomes golden brown (3-4 minutes) and then flip.
- Allow other side to become browned as well.
- Then turn heat to low, and flip back over so cheese side is closest to the heat. Allow to heat the rest of the way so that the cheese melts fully.
- Serve with your favorite side!
Katie Kelly says
I LOVE havarti cheese! It makes for the best grilled cheeses and flatbreads!
Lorie says
oooooh, flatbreads sound perfect too!
Erin Haugerud says
This looks so amazing!!
Lorie says
Thanks Erin!!!
Falak says
Oh I love havarti! What a filling and healthy take on grilled cheese. Yum
Lorie says
IT doesn't get much better, I promise!
Jen says
I was so excited when I pinned this earlier today! This is bursting with flavor and I can’t wait to make this and devour it!
Lorie says
Enjoy every bite, Jen!
Whitney E, R.D. says
I am completely sold on this sandwich. This looks so delicious. I am absolutely loving this fancy twist on the classic grilled cheese 🙂
Lorie says
I felt so fancy eating it! Ha!
Jeanette says
Really love grilled sandwich and this recipe sounds so good 🙂 Pinning it!
Lorie says
Yay! Thanks Jeanette!
Sarah says
Loving this! Before cutting dairy the only way I liked grilled cheese was with havarti! Either with avocado or with sundried tomato cream cheese, red onion, and tomato slices. Some cheese is low in lactose or lactose free and I've tried to have a grilled cheese when the craving strikes but very rarely and still have to deal with some tummy troubles. Now with so many cheese alternatives I love that there are options.
Lorie says
There really are some AMAZING dairy free cheese out there. It's unbelievable.
Jessica @ Rock That Lemonade says
I have some avocado that I need to eat tonight! I'm going to make this sandwich (or something very similar!) Thanks for the tip on how to prep the avocado for the sandwich...it sounds delicious!
Lorie says
You bet, Jessica. Hope you love it!
Jeanne says
This has me drooling. Will definitely try it.
Lorie says
Hope you love it as much ad I did, Jeanne!
Meagan says
I’m so glad that I found this blog!!!! I am drooling over this!!!
Lorie says
Awwww, thanks so much Meagan!