Green cheese toasties

Recipe

I saw this delicious looking toastie in the paper, by Jill Dupleix. I loved the idea - gooey cheese melting amongst fresh, vibrant greens. A toastie that’s also full of nutrients! This is my kind of toastie.

I based my version on what I already had in the fridge as that is the idea really. I always have left over steamed/roasted broccoli –it is one of the main vegetables my kids love (phew). I love alfalfa sprouts in a sandwich or toastie, it adds great freshness and body. A must in this toastie.

You can use any great melting cheese you like, if it melts beautifully under the grill, it will be delicious.

Serves 4. V.

Pictured: Green cheese toasties

8 slices of any good bread you have – a crusty sourdough is perfect, but it works with any favourite bread

500g broccoli, either cooked leftovers or roast to prepare (200°C for 15 minutes)

8 slices of cheese - Swiss, mozzarella, or my favourite bocconcini (slice and spread over the sandwiches, you will need a whole tub)

A good handful of your favourite leafy green, I like to use rocket – you could also substitute with green kale, or black kale/cavolo nero (prefer these options to spinach as they hold their texture better) - roast 5 minutes in the oven with the broccoli as above

½ a tub of alfalfa sprouts – use as much as you like, I like a lot

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp mayonnaise

Optional - 2 tbsp pickled jalapenos, chopped (optional but they are wonderful)

Prepare the greens that you have chosen – use leftovers or fresh rocket, otherwise roast the broccoli or kale etc. if using

Arrange the bread on the bench, spread the Dijon over four of the slices, and spread the other four with the mayonnaise.

Top the mustard slices with the jalapenos then the cheese. Add the broccoli.

Pile the rocket (or whichever leafy green you have chosen) and alfalfa over the mayonnaise slices, then press the two halves together.

Spray a sandwich press with oil or butter, place two sandwiches in at a time and press down firmly, cooking until you can see the cheese melting out the sides and the toastie is golden brown and smelling wonderful – it is a big toastie so this may take a few minutes. Repeat for the other two.

If you do not have a sandwich press, grease a frypan and place as many toasties as you can fit, then grease the top of the toastie with some butter or oil and squash down with another frypan, flip over after 2 minutes and cook the other side for 2 – 3 minutes.

Serve immediately to enjoy it while it is hot