CARAMELIZED ONION & MUSHROOM HAVARTI MELT

For this {easy} grilled cheese I decided to caramelize some mushrooms and onions, and then toast it up with some delicious mild havarti cheese.  I love havarti, but this combination would also be great with some other cheeses too. Have some Swiss or Colby cheese? Both would be great options.

The most important thing when making this specific grilled cheese, is to take the time to let the mushrooms and onions caramelize. It’s easy, but you have to be patient.  Put them together in a skillet with some butter, toss them around a couple times, and then just leave them on medium heat. Don’t touch them. I repeat, don’t touch them!  After about 5-7 minutes you will notice the mushrooms ‘sweating’, little beads of water coming to the surface.  Wait another minute and then toss around quickly, and leave them again.  Wait about 5 more minutes.  By this time their color should be turning a rich brown, and you can toss around a couple more times.  Once they are a caramel color, they are done.  This really shouldn’t take that long, and you could always cook these in advanced and then use later when you make your sandwiches.

Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Havarti Melt Recipe

Ingredients
For 2 sandwiches

• 4 slices of good bread, I like sourdough
• 4 slices havarti cheese
• 2 TBS butter
• 8oz mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• thyme, dried or fresh
• salt & pepper

Instructions

1. Heat skillet on medium heat and melt 1 TBS of butter. Add onions and mushrooms to skillet. After about 5-7 minutes you will notice the mushrooms ‘sweating’, little beads of water coming to the surface. Wait another minute and then toss around quickly, and leave them again. Wait about 5 more minutes. By this time their color should be turning a rich brown, and you can toss around a couple more times. Once they are a caramel color, they are done. Sprinkle thyme and salt and pepper over mixture and stir.
2. Using the remaining butter, evenly butter 1 side of each slice of bread. With the butter side facing down, place 1 slice of cheese on bread, then about 1/2 cup of mushroom mixture, then another slice of cheese, and then another slice of bread with the butter side up. Repeat for 2nd sandwich.
3. Place the sandwiches into a skillet on medium heat (lower heat if your bread is browning, but cheese isn't melting enough). Let cook for 3-4 minutes and then flip carefully to other side. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until browned.
4. Remove from skillet and serve cut in half.

Recipe Source : Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Havarti Melt @ domesticsuperhero