Crispy Grilled Cheese with Mozzarella, Mushrooms, and Blueberry Jam

Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 4
Total Time: 40 minutes
Active Time: 40 minutes

Nutritional Information per Serving (1 of 4 servings):

Calories: 1111
Total Fat: 44 g
Saturated Fat: 19 g
Carbohydrates: 112 g
Dietary Fiber: 5 g
Sugar: 15 g
Protein: 64 g
Cholesterol: 296 mg
Sodium: 1228 mg

This might sound unusual at first, but trust me on this one. It's wonderfully melty, earthy, and has a subtle sweetness. Think of it as the ultimate blend of a mozzarella stick and grilled cheese sandwich.

Ingredients

2 pounds of wild mushrooms such as trumpet, oyster, cremini, shiitake, or maitake
Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing and frying
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 slices of white bread (sourdough or country loaf works great)
1/4 cup blueberry jam or mostarda (I prefer Old Brooklyn)
1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, beaten
3 cups panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

Prepare a grill with indirect heat and hot coals.
Brush the mushrooms with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Grill on high heat until beautifully charred and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove mushrooms from the grill.
On a workspace, place 4 slices of bread and spread each with jam. Next, layer mozzarella followed by the grilled mushrooms, making sure to leave space around the edges for sealing. Top with another slice of bread, press down firmly, trim the crusts, and seal the edges as well as possible.
Set up a three-step breading station: In the first shallow container, mix flour with salt and pepper; in the second, beat the eggs; in the third, combine panko breadcrumbs with salt and pepper. Coat the sandwiches first in the flour, then the eggs, and finally the breadcrumbs.
Heat a large cast-iron pan on the grill with 1/4 inch of olive oil, bringing it to 325F. Fry the breaded sandwiches in batches if needed, cooking each side until golden and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Let cool slightly, slice open, and enjoy the smiles around the table.