Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Brie Grilled Cheese

Well, it’s time for another grilled cheese… Will they ever get old? I DON’T THINK SO! Since I only had one grilled cheese size portion of brie cheese left in my fridge, a vigil of sorts was necessary. To treat this last portion of cheese with the respect it deserves, a special grilled cheese was in order, one which ingredients would love to be draped in gooey brie. So without further ado I present to you the Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Brie Grilled Cheese.

Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Brie Grilled Cheese

• 2 Slices French Bread
• Brie Cheese
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 1 Clove Garlic
• 5 Mushrooms
• 50-100ml Concentrated Beef Broth
• Thyme
• Flour
• Butter
• Salt & Pepper

BEWARE!  The following grilled cheese takes time and patience, so grab a book, your tablet or a computer, sit back and relax while you watch your onions turn into caramelized gold!

First things first, get a pan going on medium heat with 1-2 tablespoons of butter. While your pan is heating, evenly slice your onion (if you are impatient, thinner slices will cook faster), then place them in the pan once the butter is bubbling. Stir the onions, coating them with the butter and only stirring periodically after that, allowing them to brown, but not burn. After a few minutes, turn the heat to  medium-low and start slicing up your mushrooms and garlic.

After about twenty minutes, add in your mushrooms, garlic and more butter. Stir everything around and add a few pinches of thyme (not necessary if you don’t have any on hand) and a generous amount of salt and pepper (the brie will tone down the salt and pepper once everything is combined). Let everything cook for about five more minutes, then sprinkle a pinch or two of flour over everything and begin adding in the beef broth. I poked a hole in the can and slowly added the broth a little at a time, letting it reduce and then adding more. This allows the onions to continue caramelizing instead of steaming from too much liquid. As you pour in the broth, you will get a nice gravy forming around the onions; taste it as you’re going, and stop once you’re satisfied with the “beefiness” of your onions and mushrooms!

Cut two slices of bread and spread butter on both sides of each slice. Place brie cheese on one slice, then top with your onions, mushrooms and more brie! Put the sandwich together, and grill it in the same pan you used for the onions and mushrooms (you’ll get some nice flavour on your bread this way!). Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned, then slice in half and enjoy this gloriously gooey mess!

The time spent caramelizing the onions is definitely worth it, and adding the beef stock gives this sandwich a flavour similar to a roast beef dip almost tricking you into thinking there actually is meat in it! Overall, you can’t really go wrong with a sandwich loaded with caramelized onions and mushrooms, and tons of creamy brie. Just thinking about it makes me want another!!

Enjoy,

Bob