This Grilled Cheese Florentine is a hearty vegetarian sandwich filled with baby spinach, diced tomatoes, red onion, and shredded mozzarella.
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 13 minutesminutes
Total Time 23 minutesminutes
Servings 2servings
Ingredients
2cupsbaby spinachpacked, washed and dried
¼medium red onionsliced very thinly
1tomatodiced (juices reserved)
1small garlic cloveminced finely
1cupshredded mozzarella cheese
2teaspoonextra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4sliceswhole grain bread
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425.
Combine the spinach, onion, tomato (and juices), garlic and mozzarella in a large bowl. Toss to combine.
Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss again.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray (or line with parchment). Place two slices of bread on the cookie sheet and top each with half the spinach mixture. Place the second slice of bread on top.
Bake for 7-9 minutes or until the spinach is wilted and the bread is toasted. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until toasted on the second side.
Transfer to a plate and include any of the filling that has fallen out.
Notes
Serve this delicious sandwich with a knife and fork.Variations
Add cooked meats such as rotisserie chicken or ham
Try substituting kale for the spinach
FAQsWhat's the best bread to use? For this sandwich, I chose a hearty whole wheat bread. You'll need something substantial such as sourdough, rye, or pumpernickel. Soft breads such as white sandwich bread won't quite stand up to the filling.Can I use another type of cheese? Of course. Select a cheese that melts easily and grate it yourself. The pre-grated cheeses are great for some applications, but they contain a starchy coating that doesn't work well in this recipe. Monterey Jack or a sharp white Cheddar would be great as would any type of Swiss such as Gruyere. A tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan added to the filling would be nice. Any suggestions for side dishes to go with grilled cheese? I'd serve this with any type of soup (tomato, chicken noodle, vegetable), a fruit salad, a tossed green salad, or even french fries or tater tots.