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Braaibroodjie (South African Grilled Cheese)

Step outside of your typical grilled cheese box and try this South African grilled cheese sandwich called braaibroodjie. It’s filled with gooey sharp cheddar, sliced tomato and onion, and sweet-and-tangy fruit chutney.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Calories: 452 kcal
Course: Main Course , Lunch
Cuisine: South African

Ingredients

  • 4 slices white sandwich bread
  • 2 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 3 to 4 ounces (85 to 113 grams) sharp cheddar cheese grated
  • 1 Roma tomato thinly sliced
  • ½ small onion thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Fruit Chutney such as Mrs. Ball’s or Major Grey’s

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Evenly spread the softened butter on one side of each slice of bread. Flip the slices butter-side down on a work surface. Divide the cheese over two of the slices and top with sliced tomato and onion. On the other two slices of bread, evenly spread the chutney.
  2. Flip the chutney-covered slices of bread to cover the slices with cheese, tomato, and onion to form a sandwich with the buttered sides on the outside.
  3. Heat a grill over medium heat or a grill pan or large nonstick pan over medium-low heat. You can also heat up a panini press.
  4. If using the grill, place the sandwiches in a hinged grill basket and close it. This will make it easy to flip the sandwiches on the grill without making a huge mess. Grill the sandwiches for about 3 minutes per side until toasty on the outside and gooey in the middle.
  5. If using a grill pan or large nonstick pan, place the sandwiches side by side and cook until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is starting to melt, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the sandwiches over with a spatula and cook for another 3 minutes on the second side until golden brown and all of the cheese in the middle is gooey and melted.
  6. If using preheated panini press, the sandwiches will likely only need about 1 ½ minutes until golden brown and toasty with a gooey cheesy filling.
  7. Slice sandwiches in half diagonally and serve immediately.

Notes

  • The chutney typically used for braaibroodjie is Mrs. Ball’s, which is a sweet-and-sour chutney made with dried fruits and vinegar. If you can’t get this brand, Major Grey’s is a good option, or any mango chutney would also be nice. Apricot preserves could work in a pinch but will be more sweet rather than a combination of sweet and tangy like a chutney.
  • The chutney typically used for braaibroodjie is Mrs. Ball’s, which is a sweet-and-sour chutney made with dried fruits and vinegar. If you can’t get this brand, Major Grey’s is a good option, or any mango chutney would also be nice. Apricot preserves could work in a pinch but will be more sweet rather than a combination of sweet and tangy like a chutney.
  • You can definitely slice your cheese instead of grating it if you wish. Avoid using pre-shredded cheese and grate it yourself if you do grate it. Store-bought shredded cheeses contain anti-caking agents to keep them from clumping together and will not yield the same smooth melty cheese filling as achieved with using regular (not pre-shredded) cheese.

Nutrition Information

Calories 452kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 38g (13%) Protein 15g (30%) Fat 27g (42%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 6g Cholesterol 73mg (24%) Sodium 706mg (29%) Potassium 135mg (4%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2sandwiches

Amount Per Serving

Calories 452

% Daily Value*

Calories 452kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 38g 13%
Protein 15g 30%
Fat 27g 42%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 73mg 24%
Sodium 706mg 29%
Potassium 135mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.