I just had a brain fart on how to spell ‘arugula.’ My birthday is in 2 weeks. I’m getting old.
I tell you what, I have been dreaming of grilled cheese for some time now. Really GOOD grilled cheese with awesome bread, griddled with real butter, on awesome bread. And maybe a little meat because, well, Nate doesn’t count it as a meal unless there’s meat in there. He’d probably ask where the rest of the dinner was if it was just grilled cheese. I think it’s a man thing…
Anyway, after receiving only the best box of Trader Joe’s goodies from only the best blogger and friend ever inspiration struck. Fig butter. Loosely translated for the layperson fig butter means “heaven” or “heavenly.” It’s true, it’s totally in Webster’s Dictionary. Check it out. I knew that fig butter would play a big role in dinner sometime this week, and boy was I right! Shortly after the package came into my greedy little hands a food truck came to our office park that featured a grilled cheese with fig jam on it. Eureka!
Like I said before, this would be fantastic without the ham, but the ham is also great at adding a little smoky sweetness to the sandwich too. Make it either way or half-and-half and you’ve got a real winner. And make sure you make extras to heat up in the oven the next day! I promise you’ll be craving it…
GRILLED CHEESE WITH HAM, FIG, AND ARUGULA
- 8 slices of good, fresh bakery bread
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 8 slices ham (optional)
- 8 Tbsp fig butter OR fig jam
- 12-16 slices of sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1-2 cups arugula (side note: if you don’t keep this around your house very often and don’t want to spend much hit up the salad bar at your local Whole Foods or grocer…I bought 2 cups of arugula there for $.48. Heather – 1, Whole Foods – 0)
Preheat your oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the bread on top (this may have to be done in batches depending on how big the bread is). Spread each slice evenly with 1 Tbsp of fig butter/jam each. Top each slice with cheese, making sure it’s evenly distributed – use as much or as little as you’d like on each slice, but make sure each slice has cheese on it. Place in oven for 5-7 minutes, watching carefully to make sure that cheese is melting but the bread is not toasting. When the cheese is halfway melted, remove from oven. Add ham and close each sandwich. Spread each side of each sandwich with 1/2 Tbsp of butter and griddle over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes on each side; the time it takes will depend on your preference in bread toastiness. I like mine golden brown, but not burned and not barely toasted. When the bread reaches your desired level of toasting, remove from pan. Open the sandwich carefully…it’s hot! Add a little bit of arugula in the middle and close the sandwich up. Slice and serve hot!
Arugala. Orugola. Arhughula.
Arugula. See? Not as old as I thought!
Great sandwich! I love that fig spread. I use it in oatmeal too.
That looks great! Thanks so much for the idea. I hope to make it some time this weekend.
Why have I never thought of putting these foods together?? I’ve seen the fig butter at TJs and keep passing it by. But man, with ham and arugula?
Winning!!
This looks simply delicious. My mouth is watering right now! Thanks for posting 🙂
I think I’ve been dreaming of a good grilled cheese forever now…must make this! It looks delicious 🙂
Ooooo. I saw that fig butter last week at TJ’s and I DIDN’T buy it….what is wrong with me?!?
There are always things I NEVER see at Trader Joes. Namely fig butter. It’s at the top of my list for my next trip!
I want this sandwich right now. Preferably with a massive bowl of French onion soup.
Yes please!!!! Now I just need to get to a TJs.
Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, YUMMMM!!!! I’m DROOLING this looks so good–I am SO making this!! And happy early birthday to you!!! Not sure if you’d want a $10 Hawai’i Starbucks Card, but I’m giving one away and that could be the perfect b-day gift!! Check it out over at my blog https://tinyurl.com/638j7sk =) ALOHA!
*Food Network Magazine, sorry!
Buying ingredients from the salad bar is such a great idea. I just read a whole article on it in Food Network. Is that fig butter available in TJ stores?? I’ve never seen it before!
OMG! That looks AH-MAZING! I need that fig spread in my life right now! Excuse me while I get a tissue, I am drooling all over my keyboard over here!!
This sandwich reminds of this really great little cafe in Modena, Italy that makes new and different sandwiches every day. I bought some fig butter and other than just smearing it on toast I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. Thanks for the great idea.
k first, i KNEW you’d do something amazing with that fig butter. isn’t it so good? and second… um, we definitely have ESP. last night i ate a grilled cheese with figs on it!! i didn’t use the butter but i had some figs i found at TJs and threw them on my grilled cheese. how insane is that? now i’m wishing i would have had arugula and some sort of meat. like bacon.
I LOVE grilled cheese, and your take on it looks absolutely scrumptious! The cheese + jam combo is one I’ve been loving lately, so I’ll definitely have to try this. I’m also a huge fan of traditional “kid style” grilled cheese: white bread, lots of butter and American cheese slices. And yes, I mean the processed stuff! The texture and flavor invoke childhood nostalgia. It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed one though. That needs to change soon! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂 Happy Friday! xoxo
We have a cute little produce place by us that is owned by Koreans and the boxed arugula is always spelled arruglar. It makes me laugh every time I pick it up. That TJ’s fig butter is heaven, I agree 🙂