Dinner/Mains

December 28, 2022

ABC Melts - Apples, Beets & Cheese

ABC Melts - grilled sandwiches with apples, beets, and cheese - are grown-up grilled cheese sandwiches perfect for any time of day. Fruits and veggies always taste better with cheese! 

These ABC Melts are inspired by my favorite menu item at a local brewery. It takes a slightly different form each time I’m there, but it’s always on the menu, and it’s always delicious. This is my interpretation, which is in regular menu rotation throughout the fall and winter months at my house.

I am a huge fan of the packaged, pre-cooked beets available in the produce section at your local grocery store. I always have a pack or two in my fridge. I love beets, and I know the effort to roast and peel them myself is well worth it, but the convenience of the pre-cooked, store-bought packages means I eat a lot more beets than I would otherwise, and knowing how nutrient-dense they are, that’s definitely a good thing! So take some help from the store, and these ABC Melts come together in no time, making them an easy weeknight meal.

These ABC Melts are a delicious combination of flavors - sweet and tart, tangy and savory. The tart apple and tangy mustard cut through the sweetness of the jam and beets, and the richness of the cheese. Perfectly grilled to golden brown and crisp, these sandwiches are satisfying in both texture and flavor. They’re great for a weekend lunch or a weeknight dinner - add a side salad, or maybe some roasted potatoes - or both! - to complete the meal.

Ingredients assembled for ABC Melts
Assemble your ingredients.

Thinly slicing the apple quarters and whole, cooked beets
Thinly slice the apple and beets - each sandwich gets one-quarter of the apple, and a whole small beet.

Stages of assembling the ABC Melts
Assemble the sandwiches: starting by spreading a thin layer of butter on each slice of bread (half a tablespoon for each slice). Place the buttered sides down, and spread one tablespoon of blackberry jam on four slices, and one tablespoon mustard on the other four slices. Top each slice of bread with a slice of cheese. Layer the thinly sliced apples and beets on one side, and then bring the sandwiches together.

Prepared sandwiches cooking on a griddle
Griddle the assembled sandwiches on medium heat until the cheese is melted and the outsides are GBD (golden brown and delicious), about 4 minutes per side.

ABC Melt cut in half to reveal inside and served on a white plate
Slice the grilled sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

Two halves of an ABC Melt stacked on top of each other on a white plate
ABC Melts - a delicious combination of apples, beets and cheese!

ABC Melts - Apples, Beets & Cheese

ABC Melts - grilled sandwiches with apples, beets, and cheese - are grown-up grilled cheese sandwiches perfect for any time of day. Fruits and veggies always taste better with cheese!

Author:

Kira Freed - The Joyful Plateful

Prep:

10

min

cook:

10

min

total:

20

min

Ingredients

8 slices whole grain or sprouted grain bread

8 slices havarti or gouda cheese (I like a mix of both)

8 oz. peeled, cooked beets (1 package)

1 large tart apple, such as Granny Smith

4 Tbsp. blackberry jam

4 Tbsp. whole-grain mustard

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided

Instructions

1. Start by prepping the apple and beets. Cut the apple into quarters, and remove the core. Thinly slice each quarter of the apple, and set slices aside. Thinly slice the cooked beets, and set aside. 

2. To assemble the sandwiches:

  • Spread half a tablespoon of butter evenly on the outside of each slice of bread. Place the butter side down so you can build the sandwich.
  • On one half of the sandwich, spread one tablespoon blackberry jam. Repeat three times. 
  • On the other half, spread one tablespoon whole-grain mustard. Repeat three times.
  • Place a slice of cheese on each piece of bread.
  • Divide the sliced beets and arrange evenly over half the pieces of bread.
  • Divide the apple slices and arrange on top of the beets.
  • Top the apples with the other prepared piece of bread.

3. Grill the sandwiches on a griddle on medium heat until golden brown on the outside, and the cheese is melted inside, about 4 minutes per side. 

4. Slice in half and serve immediately.

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