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When it's cold outside, this stellar turkey melt really hits the mark! I tweaked this sandwich many times during my lunch breaks and it always delivers. Imagine buttery golden sourdough packed with juicy turkey, crunchy bacon, ripe tomato slices, green spinach leaves and gooey cheddar. It's the ultimate comfort sandwich, particularly when eaten alongside a bowl of your go-to soup.
The Standout Elements of This Sandwich
This is basically your childhood grilled cheese that went off to college and came back sophisticated! What I adore is how adaptable it can be – swap out your bread type, try different cheeses, or mix up your fillings for a customized creation. Maybe throw in some honey turkey, toss in peppery arugula, or spread a layer of fresh pesto. You've got so many tasty options to play with!
Your Ingredient List
- Turkey: Sliced deli meat (or holiday leftovers if you've got them; note that leftover turkey might need gentler, longer heating)
- Bacon: Cooked until crisp (technically optional, but the texture and taste are worth including)
- Cheddar Cheese: Real cheddar cheese (cut from a whole block for superior melting and richer flavor)
- Spinach: Handful of fresh greens (brings a subtle taste and lovely green color)
- Tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes (cut into thin rounds for the perfect taste-texture balance)
- Bread: Quality sourdough (or any rustic bread you prefer, toasted till golden)
- Butter: Good old butter (for coating the bread and getting that crispy outside)
- Condiments: Sweet-tangy honey mustard (or swap in mayo, pesto, or regular mustard if that's your thing)
The Assembly Instructions
- Prep Work
- First things first, get everything ready to go – cut your tomatoes and cheese into slices, give the spinach a good rinse, and fry your bacon till it snaps when broken.
- Stack Your Ingredients
- Spread butter on the outside of each bread piece. On the inside faces, arrange your turkey, bacon, cheese, spinach and tomato slices. Smear honey mustard on one bread slice before closing your sandwich with the buttered sides facing out.
- Get Toasting
- Warm a pan to medium heat, place your sandwich in, and toast it without rushing. Give it a gentle press with a spatula to help all those flavors come together as the cheese softens.
- Finishing Up
- Once both sides turn a nice golden brown and your cheese has gotten all melty, cut the sandwich in two and serve immediately. Nothing beats eating this alongside a hot cup of tomato soup!
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Inside Tricks for Success
You'll want to speed things up, but don't! Keep your pan at medium heat so your cheese gets all gooey before your bread turns too dark. And do yourself a favor – spend a few extra bucks on quality cheese from the deli counter or a nice block you slice yourself. The flavor and melt you'll get can't be matched by those plastic-wrapped squares!
Common Recipe Questions
- → What’s the best cheese for melting?
Block or deli-fresh cheddar slices work best for melting. White cheddar has a rich taste, but Swiss or yellow cheddar will do too!
- → Can I assemble this ahead?
Yes, but skip buttering the outside until ready to cook. Wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Bread may get soft from tomatoes.
- → How should I cook the bacon?
Fry the bacon in a pan until crisp or bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. Drain on paper towels to keep it crunchy.
- → What sides go well with this?
Great pairings include coleslaw, chips, tomato soup, or a crisp salad. Lighter choices could be pickles or cucumber slices.
- → How can I make it healthier?
Try whole grain bread, turkey bacon, and less cheese. Add more veggies like cucumber or avocado for a balanced meal.