Incredible cheese and mushroom toastie recipe

Try this deliciously flavourful cheese and mushroom toastie recipe, flavoured with red onion and cayenne and made complete with perfectly melty, stretchy cheese.

Toasties are one of my favourite meals to prepare, especially when I'm short on time but want something hot, filling and comforting.

They're versatile too, meaning as long as you have some good bread and the right cheese, you can really get creative with the fillings and whip up something really tasty.

This also makes toasties great for using up the last few bits of something you have lurking in the fridge, as well as a great way of reinvigorating bread that's threatening to go stale.

Of course, the perfect toastie isn't just the ingredients, it's also about how you prepare them.

What bread to choose

For the bread it's really up to you, just make sure the slices are thick enough to hold your ingredients together (no one wants a toastie that falls apart before you get your first bite), and that the slices large enough that it will be able to keep everything in place.

Generally speaking, I'd also stay away from and types of bread with large holes which make buttering difficult and let the ingredients escape.

What cheese to choose

When it comes to toastie fillings there's only one absolute must as far as I'm concerned: cheese. You want a cheese that can comfortably act as the hero of the sandwich, and yet isn't going overpower the other ingredients. It should work with them beautifully once everything is melty and delicious.

You don't want something too sharp, either. It may work in a normal sandwich but can quickly overpower a toastie. You need some subtly so you can appreciate all the rich flavours you get from slaving over a hot stove for... well..a couple of minutes, but still.

A cheese that ticks all the toastie boxes for me is Jarlsberg®, which has a mellow and slightly nutty taste that's absolutely perfect at blending everything in your toastie together while still bringing its own distinctive nutty, almost sweet flavour.

Jarlsberg® is a Norwegian cheese that goes back to 1956 and has now become a deli favourite in Britain and America, as well as Norway. I'd love to tell you more about how it's made, but the exact method of production it is a closely guarded secret known only to a select few. I've read that those lucky few aren't even allowed to travel together - just like the royal family!

Another reason for using Jarlsberg® is that gives you the absolute perfect consistency for a toastie of melted-but-not-runny cheese in every bite, while having that fantastic, elastic quality when pulled apart. I defy anyone not to crack a smile when separating a freshly cut toastie.

What fillings to choose

After you have the cheese and bread sorted it's really up to you what kind of ingredients you want to use, but if you haven't had mushrooms in a toastie before, you really must try this recipe.

The savoury, earthy mushrooms and hint of garlic really complement the nutty, gooey cheese and deliciously crispy bread.

So what are you waiting for? Get toasting! Recipe below.

Instructions

Use 1 tbsp butter to butter the slices of bread with butter on one side.

Warm the olive oil and remaining 1 tbsp butter in a large pan over a low heat.

Add the garlic, onions, cayenne and black pepper.

Sweat for about 5 minutes until the colour deepens and you have a paste.

Turn up the heat, add the mushrooms in a single layer.

Fry for 2-3 minutes until just beginning to brown on both sides - turn carefully to keep the slices whole. Taste and add a little salt, if needed - if the butter is salty, you might not need any. Tip into a bowl and set aside.

Place half of the slices of bread in the pan, butter side down. Use half the Jarlsberg® cheese to top each slice of bread.

Layer the mushrooms on top and sprinkle the coriander, if using.

Layer on the remaining Jarlsberg® cheese.

Top each toastie with the remaining slices of bread, butter side up. Put a lid on the pan to help the heat to reach the cheese.

Flip the toasties when they're golden underneath and replace the lid again.

When the bread is golden on both sides and the Jarlsberg® cheese is melted, remove from the pan, cut in half and serve.

Print this cheese and mushroom toastie recipe

Pin this cheese and mushroom toastie recipe for later

Tips and tricks for the perfect cheese toastie

Here are some tips and tricks to get your toastie perfectly crunchy on the outside and perfectly melted on the inside every time. I've also shared lots of flavour inspiration, alongside tips on what to do with leftover toasties (if you've ever known such a thing!)

What could you do differently with the flavours?

A little sprinkling of fresh herbs or greens over the cheese can really help round out the flavours. From coriander, thyme and parsley to fresh slivers of spring onions or dill, there's bound to be something in your fridge that will work.

If you like things spicy, a little harissa paste spread over the inside of the bread will add a lot of flavour and warmth. A pinch of chilli flakes or slivers of chilli peppers added to the mushrooms works well too. Go easy, though, you don't want to overpower the cheese!

What goes well with this cheese and mushroom toastie?

This cheese and mushroom toastie is lovely on its own, but you'll have yourself a quick and delicious lunch or dinner if you pair with a light fruity salad or fresh soup.

Crunchy salad or warming soup will both complement the mild gooey cheese and crispy bread beautifully.

Check out the below recipes for some accompaniment inspiration.

How best to store a toastie? How long will they last? Should toasties be put in the refrigerator?

Toasties are best enjoyed as soon as they're made, especially if you're using a cheese like Jarlsberg® which melts and pulls fantastically.

However, as long as your toastie is cooled down, wrapped and placed in the fridge within a couple of hours of being made, it should last for a couple of days.

Can toasties be frozen? 

I haven't tried, but the individual ingredients freeze well and I expect it if it's wrapped in foil and baked from frozen, it should reheat nicely, although it might get a little watery from the mushrooms.

Just make sure to store it in the freezer in an airtight container and get it into the freezer within an hour or so of making.

Can toasties be prepared ahead of time?

It's best to eat toasties fresh out of the pan. However, you should be able to store many cooked toasties in the fridge and wrapped in tin foil for at least two days, which are then ready to reheat in the oven when needed.

If you're making a large batch of toasties you can do some of the prep work beforehand too, for instance slicing bread, which could also be pre-buttered on one side, and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Is it safe to eat this toastie on a keto or gluten-free diet?

The toastie can be made gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free bread as all the other ingredients should be gluten-free (make sure to check the packaging).

It is possible to buy keto friendly bread from some specialist shops (or make it yourself), and while I haven't personally tried using it with a toastie I expect it should work well - let me know if you give it a try.

Is this toastie vegetarian? Is this toastie vegan? 

As it contains no meat products this toastie is vegetarian, but due to the butter and cheese it won't be vegan.

You can substitute both for a vegan alternative although don't expect the same end results in terms of taste, texture or elasticity.

Can I use a toastie bag?

I haven't tried using a bag to make this exact toastie recipe, but I suspect it would work quite well. You should still end up with something delicious, just remember you still have to cook the filling in a pan first.

Can you microwave a toastie?

You may just about be able to reheat a toastie in a microwave (it won't go crispy), but I would advise against using it to cook with.

You won't get the beautifully browned and crunchy bread that really makes a toastie a toastie, and you may find the ingredients go soggy or tough.

Where do toasties originate from? What's the history?

A device commonly called a 'toastie maker', 'sandwich toaster' or 'pie iron', which not only cooks the toasty but seals the edges too, is thought to date back to sometime in the first quarter of 20th century!

These days, toasties are generally seen as any hot sandwich, be it from a sandwich toaster or pan-fried.

Heated sandwiches may have first become popular during the great depression in America where a simple and tasty snack was the rather excellently named 'cheese dream', which was an open faced grilled cheese sandwich.

Are toasties healthy?

Due to the essential cheese, toasties are typically relatively high in calories and have a fair amount of carbohydrates from the bread, so they're not the kind of thing you necessarily want to be eating for lunch every day, but can certainly be integrated into a healthy lifestyle.

I loved this toastie, what other recipes can I try?

If you're after something else warm and delicious or you're feeling adventurous enough to bake your own bread and make your own filling then one of these recipes should be perfect.