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
Put a small skillet over medium heat and add the butter or oil. Make a sandwich with the bread and cheese.
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.
Cook until the bottom of the bread is browned lightly, 2 or 3 minutes. Turn, replace the plate and weight, and cook the…
