Grilled Fontina + Blackberry Basil Smash Sandwiches.
It’s like I’ve been on this huge fruit plus cheese plus anything grilled cheese kick… forever. They are just so easy. So tasty. So pretty. So perfect for one person!
Also, seriously? The combos are endless. Name your fruit… name your cheese… basically pick your poison.
That’s just how it goes.
And because of all that, let’s talk about something you shouldn’t do while your husband is out of town. Frankly, you proooobably shouldn’t make three grilled cheese sandwiches at once. I mean, really. Three?
Because of this, I’ve been living on sandwiches since Sunday. When I picked up this bread that morning, it was so fresh that it was still WARM. I had huge plans for it, probably involving garlic and gorgonzola and maybe even some filet. But then I spied a dying container of blackberries in my fridge, and since I haven’t killed my basil plant yet, I figured I better put it to work, and I knew I had some fontina in the cheese drawer because… I always have fontina in the cheese drawer.
I almost made that mess into a pizza, but I could not resist this bread, which is huge since bread is not my thang. This week was weird.
Besides surviving on fruit and cheese sandwiches, a little wine, a lot of chocolate and some yogurt covered pretzels, I spent a few hours yesterday prepping some meals for my husband since we aren’t crossing paths this week. At the moment I’m most likely on a plane to Seattle (scared to death since I’m a huge twit) and he won’t be returning home until tomorrow, but when he does return home? He has a fridge stocked with enchiladas, bbq beer chicken, and almost two whole pounds of toasted sesame salmon – which will most likely all be consumed in the 48 hours before I get back.
I’d like to say that he will probably miss me, but the DVR queue is seriously full of Duck Dynasty and all those dumb pawn shop shows, and it will be an entire week since he’s been forced to double up on wearing nose strips and been constantly kicked in the ribs mid-snore. Let’s face it: he’s in heaven.
One thing he will surely not even care about is the fact this he missed these sandwiches. Considering they house no meat, I wouldn’t even be able to force him to eat them as a snack or an appetizer, which is why they make the best single lady food ever. Even when you eat one a day for four days straight. And maybe even two on the last day, just to make sure they’re perfect. But I don’t know any respectable lady who’d do that.
Fontina + Blackberry Basil Smash Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
makes 4 sandwiches
1 loaf of multigrain bread, cut into 8 thick slices
12 ounces of fresh blackberries
12-15 fresh basil leaves, chopped
6-8 ounces of fontina cheese, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
In a large bowl, mash blackberries with a fork (be careful – they will splatter!) and stir in chopped basil. Heat an electric griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat.
Lay a piece of cheese on each slice of bread, then top with a few spoonfuls of smashed blackberries. Gently pick up 3 slices, brush some olive oil on the bottom, and place them on the griddle or skillet. Place the remaining slices on top, brushing them with olive oil too. I like to cook these over lower and slowly so the bread gets perfectly golden and the cheese melts, so let each side cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove and dig in!
Luckily, I’m not very respectable.
241 Comments on “Grilled Fontina + Blackberry Basil Smash Sandwiches.”
wow… I’m so drooling for this. Funny thing is, my husband is out of town as well but he’ll be elated when I surprise him with these this weekend when he gets back… Grilled cheese and blackberries (seperate) are 2 of his favorite things.
And I’ve had all these blackberries that I’ve been wondering what do do with… thanks for the inspiration!
It’s so crispy and melty and sweet! I want a fruity grilled cheese all stacked up a mile high! Looks lovely! Your husband is one lucky man to have meals already prepared and waiting for him!
I just went out and bought everything I need for these! Can’t wait!
Me too:) It was soooo delicious!!! Great recipe!
I seriously want to frame 2-3 of those pictures. Amazing!
GORGEOUS. I need to make this sandwich immediately!!
the drippy sandwich photos are amazing!
Jessica, this looks AMAZING! You take the most gorgeous photos. I could have so much fun eating this.. i’ve never tried fruit and cheese, I’ve seen Giada make things like that with Goat Cheese which I hate.. but Fontina sounds nice.
Thank you so much! You are so kind.
Your purple cheese is definitely a ladies lunch! Give me a piece of bread, a good salty cheese and top it with any red fruit jam and I´m happy. I can´t begin to imagine the mess those pictures left behind..
Dude, this looks so pretty…and delightful. I haven`t even thought to pair fruits with cheese to make a sandwich before. how very interesting! i guess i`ll have to try to see! hehe.
These would make a great appetizer! Yum!
That looks ridiculous! The bread is thick, the blackberries oozing over and the cheese tumbling in melty goodness down the side. Oh man. I’ve got some shopping to do at the farmer’s market this weekend!
What a pile of heaven!
You come up with the coolest, most creative ideas for fruits (and cheese). This recipes looks delicious. It’s not something I would have ever thought to do, but I love all the components, so I’m gonna give this a try. Maybe I’ll make three for myself, too.
This looks amazing, I wouldn’t have thought of putting basil with it though. It all depends on what cheese you use too, I guess. Maybe a little grilled chicken would placate the husband into eating them? :)
major food porn going on here! :)
Can I say that I love you once again. Blackberries & Basil on a sandwich = pure genius. I am so going to make this over & over again, 3 easily all by myself.
Seriously, yum!
It’s as if this post was written for me. Cheese and jam sandwiches take me back to Sunday tea at my grandparents’ and this looks like the perfect grown up version.
Random fun fact—Lauren Conrad pinned this post (I follow her on Pinterest.) You have celeb followers! Fun! :)
Those look incredible!
OH MY! I am so thankful for foodies like you, for thinking, creating, trying and posting Heavenly recipes such as these. I had this for lunch today and couldn’t eat it fast enough. I’ll be having one again tomorrow, I’m sure! And Sunday. And Monday. And Tuesday. And Wed……..
This is so delicious pinned and making it this weekend. Glad to have found your sight.
you had me at “I always have fontina in the cheese drawer.”…
next time you need to make a fourth sandwich….you have my email….
love,
katie
Awwww dang girl I can’t have bread or blackberries now on my food intolerance diet:( but my FAVE is dark plums (the red ones inside) & feta with mint on crusty bread grilled on the magic Foreman Grill(Ed) cheese maker!!! (my George foreman makes grilled Zucchini to die for too)
OH yum.
oh my goodness I believe I’M in LOVE!!! Looks fabulous, and I’m sure it’s delicious.
Words can not express how glorious those look to me. I want one right now!
Hubby’s out of town, and I’m spending the evening with my BFF, so I made this for dinner. Delicious!!
This is on my list to try today! I can’t WAIT. I don’t know how you are such a food genius; just know that I am jealous. Very, very jealous ;)
This is not the kind of grilled cheese I would ever think of, but now that I’ve seen them I want them…. now!!
How beautiful and delicious!
Can you tell me what brand of bread you used? Although it sure does look homemade! Yummy.
It was homemade from a local bakery!
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I must make these when my blackberries finally ripen outside. Can’t wait.
Wow, I have never, ever thought of putting blackberries in a grilled cheese sandwich. Basil, sure, but blackberries?! Definitely will be trying this when our local blackberries are nice and ripe!
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I found this recipe on Pinterest… and fell in love at first sight :) I made the “ghettofied” version this weekend and wrote about it on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration and interesting combo!
This is out of control! I need these tonight.
This is obscene in every possible and yum-tastic way. Gahhh this is why I heart you woman!! Seriously. Gasp – I just realized I have cherries in my fridge… And brie… and 8 basil plants that I haven’t killed yet and status as a single lady since the fiance is 300 miles away…my problems are solved! Hero, you are.
PS – Hope you made it home safe and sound – I adored finally meeting you and Bev and getting to visit with Heather more. I’m tragically sorry it took until the last night to see you all. ‘Til next time though. :) I know I’ll see y’all again.
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I’ve been drooling over this post for a few days now. I can’t get over HOW FREAKING DELICIOUS these look! Wtf! I love it!
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What a tasty sounding sandwich! I really like the use of the berries in it!
Stunning. You have a pallet for cheese…… great combination
outrageously yummy!
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I really cannot believe how amazing this looks!! Fontina, sweet berry sauce + crush bread ~ fabulous girl!
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Thyme goes great with blackberries too–add a little lemon zest! Wonderful!
you’re officially killing me now. That looks so freaking good I’d eat it. Even if there’s no ham in the middle. lol
Do…..do you think frozen blackberries could work for this?? I’d prefer fresh but alas my market doesn’t have blackberries at the moment. I absolutely *must* have these sandwiches.