Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Mascarpone, Strawberries, and Balsamic Glaze

This is the gourmet grilled cheese you've been dreaming of: crispy white bread filled with fresh strawberries and  sweetened mascarpone cheese then topped off with a dreamy balsamic glaze and ground black pepper.

I posted another recipe with mascarpone recently (it was this mascarpone raspberry lemon loaf) and mentioned how I'd had a bunch left over from creating another recipe. Well my friends, this is that recipe!

For August's Grilled Cheese of the Month, I'm pleased to present a gourmet grilled cheese with mascarpone, strawberries, and balsamic. And I think you're going to fall in love with it just like I have. 

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need:

• Thick, good quality crusty white bread
• Mascarpone cheese at room temperature
• White sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Balsamic reduction/glaze (same thing)
• Black pepper
• Butter

Quick Notes

I know, I know, you want to get right to the recipe. But please check out these quick notes to ensure you end up with the best grilled cheese ever:

• Make SURE your mascarpone is room temperature before trying to mix it
• You can use pre-made balsamic glaze or make your own (instructions down below)
• Don't skip the black pepper! It's such an incredible complement to the sweetness of the strawberries and goes great with the balsamic glaze
• Who says you need to wait for cozy sweater weather to dig into a grilled cheese? This one is perfect for summer nights or anytime you want to try a new recipe with strawberries!

How to Make Balsamic Glaze

I drizzle one or two tablespoons of balsamic glaze over the sandwich when it's finished. You CAN buy your own balsamic glaze, but it often has a bunch of chemicals and unnecessary ingredients. Not to mention, it's SO easy to make your own homemade balsamic reduction. AND it only calls for one ingredient. 

Here's what you do:

• Heat two cups of good quality balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan on medium heat. 
• Bring to a gentle boil. Turn the heat to medium-low heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the vinegar has reduced to about ½ a cup.
• Don't forget to stir occasionally!
• You'll know it's done when it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Let it cool before serving. 
• Store leftovers in the fridge–you won't use all of this for this one grilled cheese!

Other gourmet grilled cheese recipes

You know I LOVEEEE a grilled cheese, whether it's just bread, butter, and cheese or if it's got all kinds of other goodies in it.

Here are some other gourmet grilled cheese recipes you're going to want to check out too: 

• WHIPPED FETA GRILLED CHEESE WITH BLISTERED TOMATOES
• BREAKFAST GRILLED CHEESE EGGS BENEDICT
• GOAT CHEESE GRILLED CHEESE WITH HONEY AND RED PEPPER FLAKES
  

Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Mascarpone, Strawberries, and Balsamic

📖 Recipe

Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Mascarpone, Strawberries, and Balsamic

Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

This gourmet grilled cheese recipe is made with sweet mascarpone, strawberries, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, & a sprinkle of black pepper. It's the perfect savory and sweet summer recipe.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 2

Calories 633 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 slices thick, good quality, crusty white bread I use a crusty French loaf I slice myself!
• 4* tablespoon butter melted
• ¾ cup mascarpone cheese AT ROOM TEMP!
• 3 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup strawberries sliced
• 4** tablespoon balsamic glaze
• black pepper

Instructions

 

• Combine room temperature mascarpone cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Mix well until combined.
• Add half the mascarpone mix on one side of each of the bread slices. Evenly divide the sliced strawberries on top.

  Carefully close the sandwich and brush melted butter on top of each sandwich.
• Heat your pan on medium heat for a few minutes.

  Place the sandwich butter side down in the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes—careful not to let it burn!)

  Add butter to the other slice of bread.

  Carefully flip the sandwich and cook the other buttered side for another 3-5 minutes, or until golden and crisped to your liking! 
• Once it's cooked, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with black pepper.

  Serve hot and enjoy!

  PS...Don't forget the napkins! These get messy. Deliciously messy.

Notes

Ingredient amount can depend on the size of your bread. If you're using smaller slices of bread, you might not use all of the mascarpone, strawberries, etc. 

*You might not use all of this butter, just use as much as you'd like.

**Drizzle as much as you'd like over the sandwiches when they're done (I use about 1-2 tablespoon per sandwich). See blog post for instructions for making a balsamic glaze. 

You may want to use two spatulas to hold the sandwiches closed while you flip them so the filling doesn't fall out.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 633kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 12gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 324mgPotassium: 208mgFiber: 3gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 1231IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 294mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

By the way, if you've got strawberries left over from this, give this vegetarian summer salad recipe a try!

Thanks for stopping by, my friends! Means so much to me. If you want some behind the scenes content and more recipes, you can find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/xoandso/

XO,

C