Maybe You’d Like a Grilled Cheese for Lunch

Plus 7 tempting variations

Photo: Lauri Patterson/E+/Getty Images

The concept of griddling a sandwich isn’t exclusive to one cuisine. And you don’t need a fancy press to make a beautifully crisp and browned sandwich; the plate technique here does the job perfectly. Improve simple grilled cheese by adding your favorite dressing or using other fillings. Don’t be shy about splurging on ingredients.

Grilled Cheese

Makes: 1 sandwich
Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter, olive oil or good-quality vegetable oil
• 2 slices any bread
• Several slices (2 to 3 ounces) good melting cheese like Emmental, Gruyère, Jarlsberg, or cheddar.

Instructions

1. Put a small skillet over medium heat and add the butter or oil. Make a sandwich with the bread and cheese.
2. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, put the sandwich in the skillet. Set a plate on top of the sandwich and weight the plate with whatever is at hand — a couple of cans of soup or a small but heavy pot cover, for example.
3. Cook until the bottom of the bread is browned lightly,
   2 or 3 minutes. Turn, replace the plate and weight, and
   cook the…