Chi Kitchen Kimchi Grilled Cheese

Recipe by Minnie Luong, Founder & Chi-EO, Chi Kitchen, Pawtucket, Rhode Island / Photos by Marianne Lee

Spicy kimchi, gooey cheese and toasty bread all come together beautifully in this take on a beloved comfort food.

Makes 1 sandwich

2 slices rustic bread
good-quality mayonnaise 
2 slices gouda cheese
2 slices sharp cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons kimchi, drained and chopped 

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on 1 side of each bread slice. Place bread slices, mayonnaise side down, in a nonstick pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Top each slice of bread with gouda and cheddar.

When the cheese begins to melt, spread the kimchi evenly over 1 slice of bread, then top with the other bread slice to form your sandwich. Press down with a spatula and then flip the grilled cheese over and press again. When the grilled cheese is browned to your liking, remove from the pan, slice and serve while hot. 

This recipe appeared in the Spring 2021 issue as part of a larger story on Chi Kitchen Kimchi; a version of it appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Edible Rhody.