The Jalapeño Popper Sandwich

Name: The Jalapeño Popper Sandwich
Ingredients: 8 ounce dried california apricots (or blenheim), chopped; 6 tablespoon white onions, diced; 4 jalapeño peppers (stems and seeds removed), minced; 2 serrano peppers, cleaned and minced; 1/2 habanero pepper (optional); 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice; 1/2 tablespoon mustard powder; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated; 1 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 teaspoon salted butter (preferably tillamook), softened at room temperature; 8 slices high-quality artisan bread (like a levain), sliced 1/2-inch thick; 1/4 cup fresh goat cheese; 1/2 cup apricot-jalapeño relish; 8 pieces bacon, cooked; 8 monterey jack cheese slices, preferably tillamook

Carolyn Menyes|March 24, 2017 12:55 pm EST

4.5 (2 ratings)

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Jalapeño poppers are one of our absolute favorite party appetizers. Bring the gooey, spicy delight of that fried food to your grilled cheese.This recipe is courtesy of Tillamook and Heidi Gibson & Nate Pollak of The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco.

Servings

4

Ingredients

8 ounce dried california apricots (or blenheim), chopped
6 tablespoon white onions, diced
4 jalapeño peppers (stems and seeds removed), minced
2 serrano peppers, cleaned and minced
1/2 habanero pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 tablespoon mustard powder
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoon salted butter (preferably tillamook), softened at room temperature
8 slices high-quality artisan bread (like a levain), sliced 1/2-inch thick
1/4 cup fresh goat cheese
1/2 cup apricot-jalapeño relish
8 pieces bacon, cooked
8 monterey jack cheese slices, preferably tillamook

Directions

Mix all ingredients for the relish together thoroughly, then cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, preferably overnight.
Spread butter on one side of 2 slices of bread. Lay bread butter-side-down on a cutting board.
Spread goat cheese (which can be softened by heating it briefly in the microwave) evenly over 1 slice of bread.
Spread Apricot-Jalapeño relish evenly on top of goat cheese.
Place bacon on relish, then top sandwich with cheese slices.
Repeat for each sandwich.
Sandwiches can be cooked open face on a pre-heated cast iron pan in a 500 degrees F oven, then closed and served. Or they can be closed, then cooked in a pan on a stovetop over medium-low heat until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.