Not Sourdough, Not White: This Bread Is One Of The Absolute Best For Grilled Cheese
When we discussed the best breads for grilled cheese, focaccia didn't land on top — but maybe it's time to admit that we were mistaken. An Italian flatbread with roots going back to ancient times, focaccia is different from other flat-baked breads in that it is leavened and then pressed down with the baker's fingertips to mark it with its characteristic dimples. Focaccia is tasty, since it's usually baked with some sort of delicious topping(s) like cheese, herbs, and/or vegetables, it's airy and fluffy on the inside, and it's absolutely the perfect vessel for life-changing grilled cheese. You just need to take special care with how you prepare it.
According to both web resources and social media users, focaccia grilled cheese requires a little extra work. You want to slice the bread horizontally to create two big halves, then grill both halves cut-side down for a couple of minutes to get a good crisp going on the bread. You can either broil it in your oven or use a buttered frying pan or griddle for this part. After you fill the toasted bread with your cheese or cheeses, you could griddle the whole thing, but we love baking the focaccia in a medium-heat oven to preserve the texture of the bread and ensure a gooey interior.
One major grilled cheese mistake is not switching up your prep method to account for the specifics of either your bread or cheese. Focaccia may demand some bonus preparation and attention, but we promise that the results will be worthwhile.
For focaccia fillings, consider going back to its Italian roots
Because focaccia is Italian, you have a great jumping-off place for choosing your cheeses and fillings. Italian cheeses like mozzarella, asiago, provolone, and fontina are great either on their own or in conjunction with one another. Parmesan doesn't melt well enough to merit inclusion in the center, but you can toast some shredded parm on the exterior for nuttiness and crunch! If you really like some zest in your sando, don't shy away from gorgonzola for big flavor.
Fillings like caramelized onions, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, or a thin layer of San Marzano tomato sauce all work beautifully. But don't feel constrained! Any savory combination that you normally love in grilled cheese is likely to shine in focaccia as long as your fillings don't clash with any inclusions in the bread.
One of our favorite aspects of focaccia grilled cheese is the fact that you can feed a few people with one loaf. When the sandwich, which will be huge, is all cooked up, just cut it into wedges. This is a quick and easy way to make lunch for the whole family while delivering a sandwich way more exciting than humdrum Wonder Bread grilled cheese.