The Unexpected Vegetable That Will Upgrade Your Standard Grilled Cheese

Whenever the mood strikes for a warm and toasted sandwich, there's nothing quite like the crunchy melted goodness of grilled cheese. It's safe to say most Americans see eye to eye when it comes to this classic mainstay: In 2019, YouGovAmerica found out of 1,223 participants, 79% deemed grilled cheese a great sandwich option.

Since this toasted classic in its most basic form contains just bread and cheese, you may have started an epic journey in challenging yourself to make the best grilled cheese. As far as the right bread to use, USA Today insists white bread is the clear winner, but any variation of your favorites will do including ciabatta, pumpernickel, and sourdough.

When it comes to the best cheeses, Kraft Foods may have solidified its status with the brand's release of individually wrapped cheese singles in 1950 (via HowStuffWorks), yet American isn't the only cheese worth using, especially if you're trying to elevate your standard method of preparation. The Pioneer Woman suggests jazzing up your next sandwich with fontina, Havarti, Gruyère, cheddar, or even Monterey jack cheeses to give your next grilled cheese some different, unexpected flavor notes. Besides choosing the right bread and cheese, you may want to amp things up even more and add one unlikely vegetable that's sure to take the taste of your next grilled cheese to a whole new level.

Most famous chefs have their own special way of making the nation's most loved sandwich, including Martha Stewart, who swears by spreading mayonnaise on the outsides of the bread slices before grilling. But vegetables? Although colorful produce definitely serves its purpose, there may be some sandwich lovers doubting the addition of greens and the like to grilled cheese.

While you may not be familiar with leeks, you'll regret leaving them off of your next grilled cheese sandwich. Leeks are from the same family as onions, garlic, and shallots yet according to MasterClass, have a more subtle flavor than most standard onion varieties.

For a unique grilled cheese (and leek) experience, cookbook author and culinary expert Aleksandra Crapanzano suggests using either a sharp cheddar or fontina cheese, depending on what flavor profile you're after (per Bon Appétit). Grating your very cold cheese is step number one, followed by adding finely chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only) to the cheese mixture. You can add more or less, depending on how pronounced you want that oniony taste. Then simply sear to your liking, making sure to cover your pan or griddle in between flips to ensure you achieve gooey deliciousness within those butter-encrusted bread slices.

If you're not yet feeling ready to add leeks to your favorite sandwich though, there are countless other ways to amp up your everyday bread and cheese combo.

While leeks make a mean toasted cheese sandwich, sometimes you're looking for new and exciting spins on a classic grilled cheese recipe. Chef Eric Greenspan (via Bravo), believes adding other greens provides some unexpected excitement to the standard fare, yet there are even more ways to elevate your grilled cheese that don't always include vegetables.

Rachael Ray uses balsamic, blackberry, and basil in one of her twists, and Better Homes & Gardens suggests adding apple slices, fig spread, and chopped nuts. Ina Garten takes things one step further and adds thick bacon to her classic grilled cheese (via Food Network), which proves to be a popular suggestion from other expert foodies as well. Among the recommendations to use unique jams and spreads, olives, and vegetables, Cheese Grotto agrees with Garten's addition, claiming any variety of cured meat can add a nice salty component to classic grilled cheese.

The main takeaway here is to add only what you love and leave the rest. There are a ton of options you can try next time you bust out your favorite cheese and bread, but if you want to stick to the standard ingredient list, there's nothing wrong with that, either. Chef and television host Eden Grinshpan accurately sums up this American classic in USA Today: "Melted cheese and bread. Simple perfection."