Chef Andy Hearnden, known on TikTok as @andy_cooks, has revealed the secret to the perfect cheese toastie, recommending a three-cheese blend instead of plain cheddar. The recipe combines mozzarella for creaminess, taleggio for a pungent funk, and red cheddar for sharpness.
The Three-Cheese Blend
In a TikTok video, Hearnden demonstrated grating and chopping the cheeses, then mixing them together in a bowl. He said: "These are the best cheeses for your next grilled cheese. We've got mozzarella for creaminess, taleggio for amazing funk, and red cheddar for sharpness. Chop all those up and mix them together in a bowl." The blend is then placed between two slices of bread.
Choosing the Bread
Instead of sourdough, Hearnden opts for shokupan, a Japanese milk loaf that can be homemade or purchased from specialist shops or Marks and Spencer. This soft, fluffy bread provides a contrast to the rich cheese filling.
Cooking Method
After assembling the sandwich, Hearnden adds clarified butter to a pan and grills the cheese toastie until melted on both sides. He describes this as the "best grilled cheese you'll ever have" and suggests enhancing it with crispy chilli oil for extra flavour.
Alternative: Mayonnaise for Golden Crust
The experts at The Culinary Cartel recommend using mayonnaise instead of butter for the ideal golden crust. According to them, mayonnaise is easier to spread than butter, helps prevent bread from tearing, and has a higher smoking point, making it less prone to burning.
