The Green Acre

A delightful grilled cheese sandwich loaded with healthy veggies.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large red bell pepper, sliced about 1/8 inch thick
• 1 red onion, sliced about 1/8 inch thick
• 6 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced about 1/8 inch thick
• Salt and pepper
• 8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature, divided
• 8 ounces fresh spinach leaves
• 1 shallot or small yellow onion, minced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• Pinch of ground cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 8 slices rye bread or 4 seeded rye rolls, split
• 8 slices Wisconsin gouda cheese
• Roasted peppers (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Heat an oven-safe skillet over high heat. Add olive oil, red pepper, and onions. Sauté 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté additional 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place skillet in oven and roast 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter, a splash of water, spinach, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook just until spinach is wilted. Reserve.
5. For béchamel sauce: Heat saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter and minced shallot or onion. Season with salt and pepper; stir for about 3 minutes, or until translucent. Add flour and stir to coat. Stir in the milk, a little at a time to avoid lumping. Add nutmeg and cayenne and bring to a low simmer, stirring often to keep from sticking. Cook at least 10 minutes; stir in mustard and let stand off heat.
6. Heat skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Butter one side of each bread slice or roll and place 4 slices, butter-side down, in pan. Top with slice of gouda, 2 tablespoons spinach and 1/2 cup of peppers-onions-mushrooms. Top with 2 tablespoons of the béchamel sauce, another slice of gouda, and a slice of rye, butter-side up.
7. Grill to melt the cheese and toast the bread to golden brown, flipping sandwiches once.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin