Let's Eat

Food for thought and your stomach: as digital events lack buffets, we invite you to cook along to create our signature Election Night Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

The sandwich combines fall favorites such as pumpkin and sage with two types of cheese. It's the perfect comfort food for cold November nights so enjoy!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soft butter

10 sage leaves, roughly chopped

1/4 Hokkaido pumpkin, skin on & sliced (1-2 cm per slice)

3 tablespoon olive oil

3 thyme sprigs, leaves only

1/2 red onion, sliced

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

4 slices of sourdough bread or any other crusty bread you like (e.g. wheat bread, toast etc.)

1/2 cup cheddar, grated (or, aged Gouda, grated)

1/4 cup “Bergkäse,” grated (or, “Emmentaler,” grated)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix soft butter with sage leaves and season with salt & pepper

2. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. On a lined baking tray, arrange pumpkin slices. Drizzle and brush the pumpkin with 1 tablespoon olive oil, sprinkle with thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Next to the pumpkin, add the sliced red onions to the tray, pour over 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, season with salt & pepper. Using your hands, mix the onions, oil, vinegar, and seasonings. Roast the pumpkin and the onions in the oven for about 20 minutes or until soft and golden.

3. Spread either only the outsides of the bread slices or both sides (if you really love butter) with the sage butter. On the inside, layer the grated Bergkäse, roasted pumpkin, some balsamic onions, and the grated cheddar evenly. Add the top slice of bread, buttered side up.

4. Heat the pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and, one at a time, slowly cook the sandwich, about 4-5 minutes each side, pressing down the bread every now and then. Serve warm & enjoy!

Download the recipe

About Katharina Luther

Academic by day, food blogger by night: If she’s not teaching and researching at the University of Tübingen, Katharina Luther can be found in the kitchen, cooking up a storm of flavors for her blog essreif. You can find more of her delicious recipes on essreif.blog and @essreif on Instagram.