Who else is excited about this Summer?
I’m already feeling the need to switch out the wardrobe from jackets and boots so I can dig out all the shorts and flip-flops. Maybe this is just me, but there’s just something so liberating about not having to layer up to walk outside. It’s like more of the world opens up during the warmer seasons. I love it.
Also, it sounds like my family is going to be having lots of visitors through the Summer. We’ve got plans with both old and new friends so it’s going to be a really busy season of barbecues, picnics, and sports. Oh, and there’s only a few days left until that trip I’ve been hinting at. I’ll take away the vagueness and tell you where I’m going. I’m spending a few days in Victoria, British Columbia and I’m so looking forward to it.
Okay, today I’m sharing one of the best quick fixes I’ve come up with in a while. I don’t know about you, but I adore pesto of any kind. The traditional kind is always a favorite, but I really enjoy putting in some unexpected ingredient too? Did you know pesto doesn’t have any rules? In fact, I feel that way about cooking in general. If you’re trying to always do things “right” you’re doing it all wrong.
Not that there aren’t some recipes that must be done in a specific way to get the best results, but in most cases there is plenty of room for some fun little changes or a little surprise ingredient. Cooking is both science and art.
Anyway, I know for sure already that some of those friends I was talking about are vegetarians I really enjoy trying a variety of cooking challenges anyway, so I decided to keep this sandwich meatless. Actually, I had originally planned to make it a vegan sandwich until I looked closely at some cheese I’d gotten for it and realized it wasn’t really a vegan cheese, just lactose free. That’s okay, I just decided I’ll try some vegan cheese in another recipe and I grabbed the havarti, which by the way, if you’ve never tried it you’re missing out. I’m not much of a cheese person myself but it’s currently my family’s favorite and if I do go for cheese on occasion, it’s my favorite too.
The real star of this recipe if, of course, the pesto! The recipe makes enough pesto for quite a few sandwiches, but the good thing is that it saves well and also, it can be used in so many ways other than on these sandwiches. So let’s do a simple breakdown of this sandwich. Start with some rye bread, add some fresh baby spinach and lightly sautéed mushrooms, havarti cheese, and a very generous amount of the sun-dried tomato pesto, then melt all together quick and easy. OOoooooh, if you’ve got a panini press that would be amazing too. Why don’t I have a panini press by the way? I don’t know but clearly I need to fix that asap.
I’d say this sandwich is the perfect way to get into the mood for everything fresh and summery. If you try be sure to let me know what you think!
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto & Havarti Grilled Cheese
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 1 sandwich + extra pesto
This fresh and flavorful sandwich makes the perfect non-boring lunchbox item or quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto:
1 (8 ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil
1 (5 ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup fresh baby spincah
1/4 cup walnuts (you can also use a different nut such as almonds if desired)
1/4 cup pine nuts (or more walnuts)
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 cup fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Sandwich:
2 slices rye bread
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1/2 cup button mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
3-4 tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto (recipe above)
2 slices havarti cheese
Instructions
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto:
Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and pulse until nearly smooth. Store in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 4 months.
Sandwich:
Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add about 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Sauté the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes until lightly browning along the edges. Remove from pan and assemble the sandwich by layering the mushrooms with the spinach, havarti, and pesto on the slices of bread.
Add the other 1/2 tablespoon of oil to the skillet to the pan and reduce heat to low. Grill the sandwich on both sides for about 5 minutes until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.
Enjoy!
For more great food ideas and inspiration, please do not forget to look at my other recent posts
- Caramel Milkshakes + Celebrating 15,000 Followers!
- Easy Cinnamon Sweet Potato Quick Bread
- Sweet Hot Sesame Mustard Chicken Pizza
- Blueberry Almond Streusel Crumb Muffins (Gluten Free)
- Hummus Crusted Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
- https://steemit.com/photography/@gringalicious/5-ingredient-s-mores-puff-pastry-pop-tarts-food-photo-shoot
- Oven-Fried Chicken & Buttermilk Waffles
- Chocolate Chili Avocado Truffles
- Roasted Red Pepper+Chicken Orzo Pasta Skillet
- Thank You So Much!: Gringalicious Hits 75 Rep Score
ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL! All of these food photos were taken with my Nikon D750 and my favorite Lens, the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. You can find out more in my INTRO POST.
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What, delight @gringalicious, thank you for sharing, I'm going to put this recipe into practice and I'll tell you how, I'm staying!
Thanks @ordosjc. I look forward to hearing how you like it.
Looks delicious :-)
I want to try.
Well done, nice meal .. looks delicious
Great post from you
Thanks for sharing the recipe
thanks so much for the continued support @slimanepro
Finally, you let the cat out of the bag. Columbia!!!!!!!!! Heard it's a fun spot and I hope to visit one day too. I look forward to the updates when you make the trip. I wish you fun.
Who else is excited about this summer? Please, I am excited about this Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto: Havarti Grilled Cheese.
I totally understand the warmer weather, where you don't have to layer up like the onions hahaha. I hope you added me to the lists of those visiting in the summer? I've got some outfits, for for warmer weather for you.
You surely make cooking fun, and you are right, it is both art and science and you dazzle with it. Well done. I really wish I could grab a bite of this. You can't download food? I just did, with this, I just can't taste it. Well done. I like your attention to details.
you're coming to visit?
So, I understand you do all this steeming on your phone? If so, that's amazing.
Hahaha Yes, I do it all on my phone. The help I have received so far on it is massive. I am absolutely delighted.
I would love to be there, but one day, one day.
Thanks for being so nice and kind. Means a lot me.
I love pesto with parsley but also from time to time I add some unexpected ingredients ;) Cooking is all about fun! 😊
I'd love to hear some of those unexpected ingredients @xuanito
Haha I add what I actually find in my kitchen ;) It can be hot chilli, cilantro, rucola or even oregano 😉
Looks like a nice lunch break sandwich. :)
lunch break, you bet, this would work great
Delicious food and awsome food photography,good job.
Your post is always different i follow your blog everytime,your post is so helpful.I always inspire of your post on my steem work.Thank you for sharing @grigalicious
You follow my blog @powerupme and upvote please
Good photography 😎
thanks @rogeer
This is a very unique preparation if you are busy all the day, say morning till evening and if you eat this stuff you wont feel hungry at least till evening
so glad you liked it @teenovision
As always, beautiful photos!!
very kind, thanks so much
wow looks very delicious yummy
thanks @jassi
Very good post. Your pictures are amazing.
I'm so glad you like it @puddlejumper!
Reblogged - This Foodie Post is the #1 post in Food/Recipes/Photography of 2018 Hands Down no questions asked...
itemPresentation and Photography of Food 10/10
itemRecipe - Ease of Preparation with prep/cooking 9/10
itemOverall Post including all things necessary for a great Food Post - 9.5/10
Thanks so much for sharing this with your fans @gringalicious
** I know many of my followers will just love making and eating this dish :)**
I really appreciate it @krytonika!
Anytime - YOU certainly deserve it!!
Anytime !!
That looks yummy.But the most important thing about the sandwich is it's full of nutrition.You had that in your mind.Taste with nutrition makes the best combo.I wish i had a bite of that sandwich.One more thing the photos are superb.You have good sense of food photography.Thank's for sharing with us.
Thanks @sarahmcdowell!
That sandwich looks very delicious.Also the recipe is very healthy.Whenever people hear about sandwich they think it's a junk food.But you have shown that even a sandwich can be quite healthy.Great food photography and great recipe.Looking for your next post.
Thank you @rupok. Have a great day!
Great job!
Ooo yummy sandwich :)
What a delicious and wonderful photos that almost throw one of balance
so sorry the 7 day delay in responding, thanks so much for commenting @talking2rolly
Its so amazing photos i want to eat it
thanks for taking the time to comment, sorry for the 6 day delay
The foodie in me just fell in love with your posts..
Sandwiches are always fast and at hand, ranging from the most basic and simple to gourmet. the theme of the vereno, you can see that you love it and it is not for less, in Venezuela almost all the year we have sun so the Sandwich are good for us at any time. It is curious your opinion about l pesto, since on one occasion I told a friend that I had made a pesto of purslane and he told me at all fort that the pesto was only and basil, now I will tell him "" the pesto has no rule and if you do all the time things well, it is indicative that you are doing wrong "hahaha greetings!
fantastic commenting @guanipa, thanks so much
Thanks to you for such an excellent publication.
Delicious goodness ☀️
Un nuevo concepto o estilo de Sandwich
Saya ikan kecil tidak bisa banyak vote 😇😂😂😂
Thanks @indonesia-01!
Saya ikan kecil tidak bisa banyak vote 😇😂😂😂
nothing to say now , just i am saying to you, please send me some food
i wanna eating eat :p
Thank you so much @sabbir1213!
if summer is more comfortable we pakek shorts, I love this delicious cake comrades.
Thanks for reading @putry01!
Yes, you are welcome
I am really excited about the summer maam specially the mangos.
And the one you shared is also amazing.
Thanks @mnishh!
It's very important step
Thank's @gringalicious
Thanks @lovelyworld!
Once again, I am gonna tell you that your photography is awesome. It is brilliantly describing food you made.
That's such a kind compliment. Thanks @plop-into-milk!
good
Thanks @iamgun!
I’m excited for your trip, let me know if you happen to plan a trip to Florida. Also, would could you use instead of the cheese? Make it began friendly?
Well, you could try using some vegan cheese alternatives or simply leave it out. Thanks @kubbyelizabeth!
Oh my that looks amazing! I think good food photography is important to make your recipe look appealing. Yours totally nails it. I got so hungry!
Thanks for taking the time to comment @lilixblack!
Wow, this sounds so flavorful, I really have to try it myself. Amazing photography as always
Thank you so much @noboxes!
delightful and absolutely stunning photography
I'm so glad you like it @mamaloves!
Hi gringalicious,
Wow so much ingredients and look so delicious
yummmm
Thanks @shahishasank
Very Interesting .. Yummy
Thanks @abshah
With this you prepare everyday, summer is really gonna be busy for you. Cos more visitor will be coming. Sandwich is spicy. Will taste good
Thanks for taking the time to comment @yungchief!
I will be having this for lunch very soon @gringalicious. Resteemed :D
Very healthy and delicious recipes!
That's so kind of you @gavinthegreat. Thanks!
Look at that...! Never seen this much look yummy sandwich in Korea!!!
Look forward to seeing next one :)
I look forward to sharing it @wooyoung!
Amazing 😍❤
thanks
Nice@gringalicious
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That's looking so tasty... And you've got great shots there; good job
thanks so much for the kind words @joyart, so sorry for the 7 day delay
It's okay dear.... I understand you have a lot of things to attend to as well
Wow, I'm getting hungry.
thanks so for comemnting @renulia
Let the summer come!!
Gonna try this, a perfect vegetarian recipe for me and my family.
so glad you liked it @pasiee, so sorry for the 6 day delay