Mascarpone, Strawberry, and Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe

Updated June 18, 2019

Although it's only March, there's been some great-looking strawberries at my local farmer's market in Los Angeles lately. So after purchasing my first batch of early-season berries, I combined them with some cream and basil in a rather unconventional way—in a grilled cheese sandwich.

The cheese in this grilled cheese sandwich is mascarpone—the mild, yet faintly sweet Italian cream cheese—which I spread onto a couple slices of honey wheat bread, followed by a drizzling of honey, some sliced strawberries, and some thin ribbons of fresh basil. After melting a pat of butter in a hot pan, the sandwich is toasted on both sides just until golden, then sprinkled with powdered sugar for a sweet, herb-infused grilled cheese that's great for dessert, or even breakfast.

Recipe Details

Mascarpone, Strawberry, and Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe

Active 15 mins

Total 15 mins

Makes 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

4 slices honey wheat bread
2 tablespoons softened mascarpone cheese
Honey, for drizzling
4 to 6 large ripe strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
2 large basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons
2 tablespoons butter, divided
Powdered sugar, for sprinkling

Directions

Spread the mascarpone onto one side of each of the bread slices. Drizzle honey onto each of the bread slices. Evenly divide and shingle the strawberry slices amongst 2 of the bread slices, then evenly divide the basil onto the strawberries. Top each bottom half of the sandwich with the remaining bread slices.
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, tilting the pan to ensure the bottom is coated in butter. Place 1 of the sandwiches into the pan and cook just until the first side is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the sandwich over and cook until second side is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the sandwich to a large plate.
Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the same skillet, tilting the pan to ensure the bottom is coated in butter. Place the second sandwich into the pan and cook just until the first side is toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the sandwich over and cook until second side is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the sandwich to a large plate. Sprinkle both sandwiches with powdered sugar and serve immediately.