Gettin' cheesy

photo by pwisenberg

Yes, that is a grilled cheese! Or should I say a grilled "cheeeese"? Since adopting a vegan diet, I've steered pretty clear of imitation cheese. But every now and then I crave the savoury and satisfying taste of ooey-gooey cheddar. I used a soy-based vegan cheese for this sandwich and was pleasantly surprised when it melted beautifully. To spice up this traditional sammie, I made a vibrant southwestern pesto complete with cilantro, jalapenos and even some chia seeds for crunch! And let's be honest here, even the fanciest of grilled cheeses can benefit from a little ketchup.

Spicy vegan grilled cheese sandwich
Serves 2

4 slices good bread
Earth Balance butter for spreading
8 slices dairy-free cheddar cheese

Southwestern pesto

1 cup fresh cilantro
3 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
1 small avocado, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup chia seeds
juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

To make the pesto, pulse all of the ingredients in the food processor while slowly adding the olive oil. Butter the outside of each slice of bread, while spreading the inside of one slice with the pesto. Add the cheese and grill the sandwich in a small pan over low heat. Keep the pan covered to speed up the melting process. For best results, keep a close eye on the sandwich and cook each side for at least 5-6 minutes. Serve with ketchup and gobble it up!