Beet and Whipped Feta Grilled Cheese

Today we’re talking about two of my favorite things: grilled cheese sandwiches and money.

How’s that for some transparency on a Friday morning?

OK, I’m sort of just kidding. And to clarify, I’m kidding about the money part and not about the grilled cheese sandwich part. Because grilled cheese sandwiches really ARE one of my favorite things. In fact, when Gabriel Soh, host of The Dinner Special, asked me what my last meal would be, my answer was a grilled cheese sandwich. Made by my mom, of course.

So given my deep love for grilled cheese sandwiches, I certainly couldn’t let National Grilled Cheese Month pass without making something really epic.

Beet-Grilled-Cheese-1

At first glance, you might be thinking that some of these ingredients (carrots? beets? cinnamon raisin bread?) don’t really belong in a grilled cheese sandwich. But I’m here to let you know that you would be incorrect in those assumptions. Because all these seemingly odd ingredients come together perfectly to make an out-of-this-world, totally bad-ass, savory-sweet, grown-up grilled cheese sandwich. BOOM! So put a little trust in your old pal Liz and try my Beet and Whipped Feta Grilled Cheese. You won’t be disappointed.

And IF for some chance you totally hate it, you have my permission to go back to making the old standby: white bread + American cheese.

Beet-Grilled-Cheese-3

OK, now let’s talk money. In the form of a $500 Amazon Gift Card.

I’ve teamed up with some of my blogging friends to sponsor this awesome $500 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. Because I appreciate you. And because taxes are a bummer. And because I want you to buy all the grilled cheese sandwiches in all the land. To enter, just use the Rafflecopter widget below (scroll down past the recipe to get to the widget) to follow Floating Kitchen on Pinterest and visit me on Facebook. And make sure to follow the other eleven bloggers participating in the giveaway to increase your chances of winning. Get your entries in by April 30, 2015. Good luck! Update: This giveaway has ended and a winner has been chosen. Thank you to all who participated! This giveaway was sponsored by myself and some other fabulous bloggers and was not affiliated with Amazon.com.

Cheers,

Liz

Beet and Whipped Feta Grilled Cheese

Serves 4

Beet and Whipped Feta Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

  • 4 medium beets, trimmed and washed
  • About 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 ounces feta cheese crumbles, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup whipped cream cheese, room temperature
  • 8 slices cinnamon raisin bread
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and shredded
  • About 1/2 cup greens (pea shoots, arugula or spinach)
  • 4 tablespoons fig jam
  • About 2 tablespoons of butter

Instructions

  1. Cook the beets. Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees. Place the beets on a large sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap the aluminum foil to create a sealed packet. Place the beets in your pre-heated oven (you can place a baking sheet or a second piece of aluminum foil underneath to catch any drips) and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the beets can easily be pierced with a small pairing knife. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Once the beets are cool enough to handle, use your fingers to remove/rub the peel from the beets. Slice the peeled beets into 1/4-inch rounds and set aside.
  2. While the beets are cooking, make the whipped feta. Add the feat cheese to the bowl of your food processor with the blade attachment. Process until very small crumbs are formed. Add the whipped cream cheese and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Transfer to a small container and set aside.
  3. Assemble the grilled cheese sandwiches. Spread the whipped feta on four slices of the cinnamon raisin bread, dividing it evenly between the four slices. Top with the sliced beets, cutting them to fit as necessary. Then top with the shredded carrots and the greens. Spread 1 tablespoon of the fig jam on the remaining four slices of bread. Place the slices top of the sandwich, the fig jam side facing the inside.
  4. Cook the sandwiches. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Melt about 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the sandwiches, working in batches and adding more butter if necessary, and cook them on both sides until the bread is golden brown and the insides are warm. Remove the sandwiches from the skillet. Slice and serve immediately.
https://www.floatingkitchen.net/beet-and-whipped-feta-grilled-cheese/

32 comments on “Beet and Whipped Feta Grilled Cheese”

  1. Grilled cheese and money is the perfect combo for a Friday! Love the beet and whipped feta combo! I love trying new sandwiches that are a fun twist on a classic!

  2. Ok, so I’m not sure about beets. I think I’ve tried them a long time ago? I think I like them? But I KNOW I would like anything with that whipped feta cheese. Good golly miss Molly! Great recipe!

  3. I LOVE all of your layers of flavor in this grilled cheese. But then, you could put a sliced beet with a slather of whipped feta on a pile of dirt and I’d probably eat it. Tasty!

  4. What a fabulous grilled cheese recipe – such flavorful ingredients!

  5. This grilled cheese actually sounds delicious! I love the combination of salty and sweet. Yum!

  6. now that’s a grilled cheese — YUM!

  7. Roasted beets and whipped feta? Yessssss! That’s my kind of grilled cheese!

  8. I love this sandwich because a) it’s grilled cheese, and b) in a totally different kind of way. Beets are basically my favorite thing ever, especially when they’re paired with a creamy cheese, so I know I would absolutely adore this! Thank so much for the great giveaway too!

  9. I totally believe that all these flavors mesh together perfectly! It looks soooo good! I love the whipped feta!
    I could eat cinnamon raisin bread by the loaf! No joke!

  10. This is one insanely creative grilled cheese sandwiches and I love it! The Beet and whipped feta is such a great combination, and I’m glad we got to team up for this giveaway!

  11. This is a great recipe, you are so creative to think of using beets!

  12. Mmmm… I do loves me some beets. I trust the flavors in this sammich completely. MmmMMmm!

  13. Good LAWD!! Now this IS a grilled cheese sandwich!! Just amazing!!

  14. This sandwich is packed with delicious flavors and textures… from the bread to greens to beets and that creamy feta and cream cheese!! This looks fabulous! I completely missed grilled cheese month.. not sure how that happened!! There is few things more comforting than a grilled cheese. Thank you for this, Liz!

    • You still have time to eat some grilled cheese – a few days left! Ha ha! Glad you like the sandwich, Traci!

  15. Oh my goshhhhh this sounds amazing!! I Love, love, love beets and they go so great with feta! Love all the sweet and salty contrasts going on in here!

  16. Ok, so I love beets, love cream cheese, love feta cheese, love cinnamon raisin bread, have never thought about making a sandwich with those ingredients, but I am intrigued enough to try it

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