Roasted Red Pepper, Feta, and Olive Grilled Cheese
The list of foods I hated as a child was long and dramatic. I would balk at the site of an onion in my casserole, making sure everyone noticed my careful extraction of the offending vegetable. But my disdain wasn’t limited to onions. It also included peas, pickles, beets, mustard, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, grits, and kidney beans. (Do you feel sorry for my mother yet?)
I’ve grown to love (or at least tolerate) nearly every item on that list as an adult, but one childhood aversion still gets me: olives.
I don’t know if it’s their intense salty brine or their texture, but I’ve always struggled to like those little globed fruits (yes, it’s a fruit. So weird, I know).
Still, I keep trying them, hoping one day I’ll have a revelation. And guys? I finally did.
I figured the best way to stop hating olives was to stuff them into something I’ve loved since childhood: grilled cheese.
And it totally worked. Inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, I packed this grilled cheese with feta, roasted red pepper, mozzarella, and a store bought olive tapenade.
And, wonder of wonders, I loved it. This combination just worked. The salty olives played so perfectly against the creamy, tangy feta and sweet red peppers. And the mozzarella did just what I wanted it to-provide a neutral canvas and lots of melty cheese power.
I like to use mozzarella as a base for a lot of different grilled cheeses, but especially those with cheeses that aren’t great melters (like feta). In that case, mozzarella can come in and give you that irresistible gooey-string-of-cheese-that-won’t detach-from-the-sandwich-and-dangles-awkwardly-out-of-your-mouth effect. You know what I’m talking about it.
So, we’ve got our cheese. We’ve got our olives. Now what’s missing?
Oh yes! The wine. For this pairing I chose a smooth, versatile Sauvignon Blanc.Not too sweet and not too dry, this white wine pairs well with soft, creamy cheeses like feta. It’s also a great match for mozzarella which is why I used it for the Mozzarella Pizza Fondue as well.
If you’re looking for more unique grilled cheese recipes, be sure to try my Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese, Air Fryer Grilled Cheese, and Strawberry Bacon Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese.
Roasted Red Pepper, Feta, and Olive Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 4 slices artisan bread
- 4 Tablespoons olive tapenade
- About 10 thin slices of roasted red pepper, patted dry
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 ounces feta cheese
Oh my gosh; I am so with you! The list of food aversions I had as a child was also long; and now I eat almost all of those things. And love them. Avocados, asparagus, cucumbers, olives. I still don’t like berries (the seeds), but hey – you can’t win them all!
I had forgotten about your aversion to olives, Courtney. Glad to hear you have found a
way to enjoy them. The sandwich looks fabulous. You do make me proud. 🙂
I tortured my mother with my food aversions too. She didn’t care, she’d make it and I’d pick it out. Olives though, I always loved. My dad hates them, so I’d just steal his. Such a great sandwich with the briny feta, salty olives and complimented with that mozzarella!
The combination of a tangy cheese like feta and the everybody-pleasing meltiness of mozzarella is a real game-changer. Love all the other toppings too (i’ve always been an olive fanatic though).
I love the cheerful peppers peeking out of the ooey gooey cheese! YUM!
Beautiful grilled cheese! These flavors are amazing!
The.Boy also hates olives and it’s really cramping my style!! Must make this grilled cheese. ASAP. To “cure” him of his dislike. (And also because THAT MELTY CHEESE. Love.)
I’m convinced it’s the cure. You might even be able to sneak them in without him noticing. Then you can just evil laugh under your breath while he devours the whole thing!
This sounds heavenly — and I’m glad you enjoyed the olives!
I absolutely love this combination…sounds delicious!
Congrats on your revelation!!! You sure did come up with the perfect recipe to get over your olive aversion. 🙂
It worked for me at least! Thanks Betsy!
So pretty! I love the pop of color from the peppers!
Great combination. Love the way this sandwich looks. Each specific ingredient really adds a certain flavor to make this work. Delicious!
Definitely. There was lots of balance going on in this sandwich.
I mean, I think the foods you hated as a kid are foods MOST kids hate, so I wouldn’t worry about it. And I too hated olives until just a few years ago. I slowly realized I was starting to like them when they gave just the right touch of saltiness to certain things. I love them most when they’re balanced with something sweet (like the roasted peppers) and something creamy (like CHEESE!)
Oh my gosh, yum, this is just the perfect combo. I love olives (as witnessed by my grilled cheese today), so happy you found a way to enjoy them! 🙂
Yes! I think I could get into your olive bread now that I’ve broken the olive aversion. That will have to be next on my list!
Mmm, love this gooey sammie. Pinned.
“Melty cheese power.” I need that!
We could all use a little more melty cheese power in our lives!
My husband never grew out his picky food tendencies!!! But I keep working on him! We were both on the same wavelength today…and your sandwich looks divine!
Oh man! Keep up the good fight Liz! You make way too many amazing things for him to be picky forever. 🙂
Haha, when I was a kid corn = vegetable and bananas = fruit. And olives have to be “good” olives for me to est them now. But I bet stuffed into this sammie with so many other things I love, I would love them too!
Yeah, I was pretty much a green beans and strawberries girl. So I ate a LOT of them, considering it was the only veggie and fruit I really liked. We’ve come a long way!
Roasted Red Pepper Grilled Cheese Sandwiches is one of my all time favorite things! I just love that you added feta! Your sandwich is just gorgeous!!
Thanks Jennifer! It’s one of my new favorites too.
so glad you finally got over your dislike for olives. . I LOVE them. Like “pop them into my mouth like candy” love them. and love everything you have going on in this grilled cheese! delicious!!
I haven’t gotten to the plain olive love yet, but maybe some day. The Mr. definitely eats them like candy!
Lovely! I think I could eat more than my share of olives in this version of grilled cheese!
Wow oh Wow!!! This looks fantastic and the addition of olives sounds amazing.
Olives in grilled cheese vworks for me!
It was a sandwich that got me loving olives too. In my case it was a muffaletta. It must be something with the combo of it and cheese.
Yes! Muffalettas are so good! I almost forgot about those. They used to make a muffaletta panini at the bakery where I worked and I could actually handle the olives in that too.
Love this Courtney! I too, hate olives, but I’m starting to (slowly) grow up 🙂 I’d definitely take them in this grilled cheese!