Pear, Dark Chocolate and Munster Panini
Erica Lea on Jun 6th 2012
Don’t you love those times when you get inspired to cook something totally delicious, find you have everything you need, and then just cook it? That’s how this sandwich was for me.
Sitting in the fridge was a beautiful, organic red d’anjou pear that, I admit, I had let go a bit past its prime. I was in the mood for a grilled cheese sandwich, but with a bit of sophistication. Seeing several recipes online that paired (NPI) dark chocolate and pears in panini form, I decided to give it a try.
Here are my ingredients assembled: good butter, Munster cheese, crusty bread (this recipe), sliced pears and chopped dark chocolate.
It was absolutely amazing. The melty, mild cheese with soft pears and chocolate was just wonderful.
I don’t have a “recipe” for ya’ll today, just a method. You can easily substitute ingredients (different kinds of pears, cheese and chocolate). Use whatever you have on hand!
Pear, Dark Chocolate and Munster Panini | Printable Page
Recipe by Erica Lea | Cooking for Seven
Ingredients:
- Crusty bread
- Good butter
- Dark chocolate (I used bittersweet)
- Ripe pears, thinly sliced
- Mild, soft cheese (I used Munster)
Directions:
1) Butter two slices of bread on only one side. Place the pears, cheese and chocolate on one slice and place the second slice on top. Repeat with however many sandwiches are desired.
2) In a cast-iron skillet, melt some butter over medium heat. Add the sandwich(es) and place something heavy on top (I used a heavy bowl + a pot) to weigh it down. You could also use a panini grill if you have one.
3). Cook until browned on one side (a few minutes), flip, and cook until browned on the second side and the cheese and chocolate are melty. Enjoy!
Filed in Sandwiches
Ooooh! I’ve never tried cheese with pears and chocolate. I am obviously missing out! Love the colour on the d’anjou, too.
This panini looks so fabulous! What an awesome way to have chocolate lunch. Love this!
Those moments of inspiration are my favorite! I always feel so accomplished when I make something wonderful with my the ingredients I already have lying around. Your photos are gorgeous and the panini sounds amazing.
Yum! That looks (and sounds) absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to give this a go!
Oh my. I think I just died and I haven’t even tasted it yet.
Looks delicious!
I’ll try this!
Thanks for the recipe
This looks so great! I’m completely in love with fruit and chocolate. I can never seem to get a pear perfectly ripe though, I don’t know what my problem is.
OH YUM! It doesn’t matter if our fridge is bare… we always have the making of a grilled cheese on hand; and of course we always have a HUGE hunk of Kerrygold in the butter dish!
Wow! This looks tasty!
Apricot preserves and Swiss cheese is another yummy combination.
This looks fantastic - I love chocolate and cheese together!
What a unique combination of flavors. Love the idea of fruit, chocolate and cheese. Sounds so good.
oh my goodness! I *must* try this. This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Chocolate in grilled cheese is one of my all time favorite things, ever!!!! And this panini, ding dang, it’s callin’ my name!
Wowsa! I think I could eat this for any meal of the day! (Maybe I can even convince my husband to make it for me for my birthday… I’m feeling lazy.)