Vegan Grilled Cheese Royale
A timeless classic - the nostalgia of the late night snack, the Sunday lunch, and the rainy day recipe. Once just out of reach for vegan eaters, this ooey-gooey tummy warmer is right at our fingertips. Pop down to your local grocery store and have a look at some of your favourite dishes made plant-based, from cheeses and sausages to burgers and mayo.
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Before We Get Started
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 40 Minutes
Ingredients
Grilled Cheese
2 slices White Rye Bread
Or bread of choice
3 slices Vegan American Cheese
Or vegan cheese of choice
Vegan Butter
Softened for spreading
Caramelized Onions
4 medium-sized White Onion
3 tbsp. Vegan Butter, divided
1.5 tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
Buffalo Aioli
1/3 cup Vegan Mayonnaise
2 tsp. Buffalo Sauce
Check for butter if you’re vegan
Recipe
Caramelized Onions
Cut your onions in half lengthways (with the root and the dangly bit at the top and the bottom). Then, cut the top and the bottom off from each half. Remove the outer and top layer of the onion. Repeat for the remaining onions.
The top layer of the onion may look a bit shiny/plastic-like. Removing this will make it easier to cut and your caramelized onions will have a better texture.
Starting on the right-hand side of the onion, slightly tilt your knife, aiming towards the center of the onion. Make your first slice, and as you slice the remainder of the onion, rotate your knife to constantly aim towards the center.
This will ensure your slices are even throughout.
As a guide, follow the lines that run down the onion. They curve naturally and will show you where to aim your knife, and at what angle to hold it.
Once you reach a part of the onion you feel unsafe cutting, place your sliced side down on the board, and rotate it 180 degrees so that the curved side is facing outwards. Slice the remainder of the onion.
4. Once all of your onions are sliced, add 2 tbsp. of your vegan butter to a pot over medium heat, once it is melted, add in your onions, brown sugar, and salt. Stir every 3-4 minutes until they’re a dark brown colour. Be careful they don’t burn on the bottom of the pot.
5. Add in your remaining 1 tbsp. of vegan butter, and stir until melted.
6. Taste for seasoning.
Grilled Cheese
Preheat a pan over low heat, with butter.
While your butter is melting, place 2 slices of bread down on the cutting board. Place 3 slices of vegan cheese on one piece, and some of your caramelized onions on the other, and close.
When your butter is melted, place your sandwich down inside the pan. Place a lid on top of your pan to encourage the cheese to melt. Check on the sandwich periodically to make sure the bottom slice isn’t burning.
Once the bottom slice is golden brown, lift your grilled cheese, place a bit more butter into the pan, and flip. Repeat step 3 until the cheese is melted and the second side is golden brown.
This step may take 5-10 minutes, but cooking it on a lower heat allows the vegan cheese to melt before the bread burns.
Vegan cheese takes longer to melt than regular cheese, so placing a lid on top of your pot speeds up the melting process.
Remove from the pan when both slices of toast are golden brown.
Slice in half, and enjoy.
Buffalo Aioli
Combine ingredients and mix.
Dip.
Spruce it Up
Add potato chips to your sandwich before toasting for a great crunch.
Try making your own vegan aioli by adding your favourite sauces to a vegan mayo.
Sriracha Aioli
Herb Aioli (Blend parsley, dill, oregano, deseeded jalapeno, garlic, and oil, to form a loose paste, then combine with mayo)
Basil Aioli (Blend basil, mayo, garlic, and lemon juice)
Chipotle Aioli
Try mixing up the type of bread you use, or using two or three different types of cheese in your sandwich for a great twist on an old classic.