Jalapeño Havarti Grilled Cheese

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country white bread

→ Dairy

02 - 4 oz Havarti cheese, sliced

03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced (seeds removed for milder heat)

→ Optional

05 - 1 tbsp mayonnaise (optional, for enhanced crispiness)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.

02 - Evenly butter one side of each bread slice. Optionally, spread mayonnaise on the inside of each slice for added flavor.

03 - Place two bread slices buttered side down on a clean surface. Layer with Havarti cheese, then distribute jalapeño slices evenly over the cheese.

04 - Top with the remaining bread slices, buttered side facing outward.

05 - Place sandwiches onto the hot skillet. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

06 - Remove from skillet, let rest for 1 minute, slice, and serve immediately while hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -

The way Havarti melts is unmatched by most other cheeses creating these velvety pockets that perfectly balance the jalapeño heat
Buttering the bread instead of the pan gives you that gorgeous golden crust without any greasy aftermath
This comes together in under twenty minutes but tastes like something from a fancy sandwich shop

02 -

Medium heat is your friend here. High heat will burn the butter before the cheese has a chance to melt properly.
If the bread is browning too fast but the cheese is not melting turn the heat down and cover the pan with a lid for a minute.
Fresh jalapeños vary wildly in heat level. Taste a tiny slice first so you know what you are working with.

03 -

Use a cast iron skillet if you have one. The heat retention gives you the most even browning.
Try adding a thin layer of cream cheese inside the sandwich before the Havarti for extra creaminess.
If you love heat add a dash of hot sauce to the butter before spreading it on the bread.