Crispy sandwiches for the soul. Hot, melted, inspired
The toasted sandwich is hot. From a fancy panini to a nostalgic grilled cheese, it offers crunch, warmth and amplified flavor.
But the appeal of a toasted sandwich goes beyond taste and into memory. You're plating a great sandwich but, by toasting it, you're warming not only the ingredients, but also the soul.
And the ingredients aren't simply being heated in a toasted sandwich. Heat transforms them – in wonderful ways. Cheeses yearn to ooze a little. Breads love to crisp. Ingredients such as onion, peppers, eggplant and tomato open up like flowers when toasted. Flavors meld into one, with none taking center stage.
Inspiration
Our chefs at Kraft Foodservice see toasting as an opportunity to offer a singular experience. "With just a little bit of heat on the ingredients, you're mellowing them and bringing out their complexities," says Jeff Basalik, executive corporate chef.
Toasting adds a great contrast of textures between the crunch of the bread and the softness of the sandwich ingredients. "You want that contrast. When cheese is melted, it has great mouthfeel," says Aliza Katz, corporate chef at Kraft Foodservice.
Behind the Recipes
BBQ Chicken Flips with Sautéed Pears
The smokiness from the Bull's-Eye Original Barbecue Sauce plays beautifully against the sweetness of the sautéed pear. "We marinate the chicken in the Zesty Italian, giving a nice background to the barbecue sauce and sautéed vegetables," says Basalik. |
BBQ Chicken Flips with Sautéed Pears
|
Brie Sandwich with Arugula-Walnut Pesto
Toasted walnuts, arugula and Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing elevate the pesto to a signature. Grilled peaches offer an unexpected sweet counterpoint to the arugula. "We're toasting this only for two minutes to get the Brie just melting," says Basalik. "The crunch comes from grilling the bread first." |
Brie Sandwich with Arugula-Walnut Pesto
|
Grilled Beef and Vegetable Whole Wheat Pizza Flip
This fun take on a calzone sees a grilled whole-wheat pizza dough loaded with grilled skirt steak, grilled zucchini, roasted red pepper, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomato and provolone. The steak and vegetables are tossed in Kraft Signature Sun Dried Tomato Oregano Dressing, and the dough is brushed with the same. "The dressing ties in all the Italian flavors, and brings in vibrancy," says Katz. |
Grilled Beef and Vegetable Whole Wheat Pizza Flip
|