Caprese Grilled Cheese

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 4 slices sourdough or Italian bread

02 - 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Vegetables & Herbs

04 - 1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced

05 - 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves

→ Condiments & Garnish

06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze

07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Evenly spread softened butter on one side of each bread slice.

02 - Place two bread slices butter-side down on a clean surface. Layer mozzarella, tomato slices, and basil leaves on top. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

03 - Drizzle balsamic glaze evenly over the tomato and basil layers.

04 - Cover with the remaining two bread slices, butter-side up.

05 - Preheat a nonstick skillet or grill pan over medium heat.

06 - Place sandwiches in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently until bread is golden and cheese is melted.

07 - Remove from heat, let rest for one minute, then slice in half. Optionally drizzle with additional balsamic glaze and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

The cheese gets creamy and melted while the tomato stays bright and juicy, creating this perfect tension of textures.
It feels fancy enough to serve to people you want to impress, but simple enough that you're not stressed in the kitchen.
The balsamic glaze hits different when you drizzle it on hot, melted cheese—trust me on this one.

02 -

Pat your tomato slices dry with a paper towel before layering—excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
Don't press too hard while cooking or you'll squeeze all the melted cheese out the sides. Light, gentle pressure is all you need.

03 -