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    Home » Recipes » Burgers, wraps and sandwiches

    Published: Jun 18, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Eggplant Grilled Cheese With Yemenite Green Hot Sauce That Will Have You Drooling

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    This Middle Eastern grilled cheese is filled with oozing Jarlsberg cheese, melted over slices of grilled eggplant, cherry tomatoes and slathered in Yemenite green hot sauce and tahini.

    close up on grilled cheese

    This post is a partnership with Jarlsberg Cheese. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible; I am proud to only work with companies that I truly believe in.

    stack of grilled cheese sandwiches

    The ultimate eggplant grilled cheese

    It is no secret that I love eggplant, and cheesy things. Put those two together, and it's a marriage made in heaven in my books.

    So when Jarlsberg tasked me with coming up with my idea of the ultimate Middle Eastern grilled cheese, my mind immediately went to eggplant.

    There is just something about the combination of grilled eggplant slices, slinky and soft from their sojourn in a hot pan; plump and juicy cherry tomatoes, bursting with flavor and juice; a touch of zaatar herb; the sharp, melodic flavor of a homemade Yemenite hot sauce called schug; lemony tahini; and melting, oozing Jarlsberg cheese.

    The resulting eggplant grilled cheese is my favourite middle eastern grilled cheese sandwich, one that we couldn't stop eating for an entire week. And once you taste it, neither will you.

    Jarlsberg cheese slices

    Ingredient Spotlight: Jarlsberg Cheese

    Jarlsberg is probably my favourite cheese, for cooking and snacking. Its mild, nutty flavor makes it a versatile cheese that's easy to pair with other ingredients.

    It's also perfect for cooking because of how it melts. Just look at the cheese pulls in my Jarlsberg cheese shakshuka! There's nothing like biting into a Jarlsberg grilled cheese, when you pull at the sandwich and get those long, twisty ropes of stretchable cheese strings. It's really the best cheese for melting, hands down - and feel free to feel offended, mozzarella.

    Finally, the main reason I like Jarlsberg cheese is because it's a great cheese for sharing. When we go outside, we always pack a bag of Jarlsberg cubes and grapes. When we come to a picnic, we bring a Jarlsberg cheese block and some crackers. In the days we hosted, we loved to prepare a batch of homemade bourekas with eggplant and cheese. In short, whenever there was people sharing food, we'd usually bring out Jarlsberg cheese in some form.

    But forgive me if once you try Jarlsberg grilled cheese, it'll be hard to think of a better way to enjoy this cheese.

    For more Jarlsberg cheese recipes:

    • Authentic Colombian cheese arepas
      Authentic Colombian Arepas con Queso recipe (Cheese arepas)
    • Learn the recipe for how to make Homemade Balkan bourekas with eggplant, tomato, Jarlsberg and feta cheese
      Cheesy Balkan bourekas with eggplant and tomatoes {VEG}
    • raising egg from cheese shakshuka
      Cheese Shakshuka that tastes just like pizza
    90 degree view of grilled cheese on board

    Why you have to try this Jarlsberg grilled cheese recipe

    I think that everyone's lives improves drastically once they taste properly cooked eggplant. But if you've ever questioned putting eggplant in your Jarlsberg grilled cheese sandwich, you need to try THIS RECIPE because it is:

    • Cheesy (so much melted cheese!)
    • Perfect balance of savory and salty
    • Spicy (wait until you try Yemenite hot sauce!)
    • Creamy (from tahini)
    • Flavorful
    • Perfectly seasoned
    • Easy to make gluten-free

    If you are looking for more Israeli and Middle Eastern food, check out my Jewish recipes section.

    slicing eggplant
    grilled eggplant slices

    How to make the perfect grilled eggplant slices

    The secret to this Middle Eastern grilled cheese sandwich are the perfect slices of grilled eggplant.

    Here are my top tips for making grilled eggplant slices:

    • Choose the right eggplant. A good eggplant has taut, blemish and dent-free skin, a firm shape, and a vibrant green top. If that sounds overly sexy, my apologies - the next point won't be any better.
    • Male eggplant also tend to have fewer seeds, which can make the eggplant bitter - so try to find smaller, male eggplants with a firm buttock. How to tell if an eggplant is male or female? Look for the indent in the bottom; if it's a long gash, it's a female, while a circular, shallow and round indentation connotes a male eggplant.
    • Seeds can make your grilled eggplant slices bitter. If you see a slice has too many seeds, get rid of it.
    • To spread the seeds evenly throughout the eggplant, you can slice it lengthwise into long, oblong strips, like you do for eggplant parmesan. This will spread the seeds throughout all your slices instead of leaving you with some seed-heavy pieces.
    • Use a hot, non-stick pan to grill eggplant.
    • Don't skimp on the oil; add 2-3 tablespoons of oil to your pan between every batch of fried eggplant slices. In total, frying a single medium eggplant should use about ¼-1/3 cup of oil.
    • Season the slices with salt after they come out of the oil, and let them drain on a paper towel.
    • Eggplant loves cheese, and other strong flavors. Pairing it with tahini, hot sauce, tomatoes and zaatar always works - which is why this eggplant grilled cheese is such a winner!
    eggplant grilled cheese ingredients

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need for this easy grilled cheese recipe:

    • Olive oil
    • a small eggplant
    • cherry tomatoes
    • jarlsberg cheese
    • zaatar spice
    • your favourite bread (gluten-free bread works great!)

    For Yemenite hot sauce (schug):

    • jalapeno peppers
    • diced cilantro
    • garlic cloves
    • cumin
    • cardamom
    • salt & black pepper

    For tahini sauce:

    • tahini paste
    • water
    • lemon, juice of
    • salt & pepper, to taste

    Equipment

    • One large pan, preferably non-stick
    • One spatula
    • Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife
    slicing eggplant

    Directions for making Jarlsberg Middle Eastern grilled cheese:

    Grill eggplant slices:

    Slice eggplant into rounds or slices (depending on the size of your bread).

    Bring a non-stick pan to medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of oil. Arrange as many eggplant slices as a you can fit in a single layer, without overlapping, in the pan. Fry eggplant until both sides are browned, flipping in the middle, about 8-10 minutes in total. Remove eggplant slices onto a paper towel-covered plate, and sprinkle with salt.

    Repeat until all eggplant slices are cooked, adding 2-3 tablespoons of oil with every batch.

    Prepare tahini sauce

    In a blender or a jar, mix raw tahini with water, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir, shake or blend well to combine. You should end up with a slightly runny, thick tahini sauce.

    Make Yemenite hot sauce (schug)

    Put all the schug ingredients in a food processor with a steel blade and process to a smooth mash. Store in a jar in the refrigerator.

    Assemble Middle Eastern grilled cheese

    On one piece of bread, spread a generous layer of tahini. Lay one slice of Jarlsberg cheese. Top with a few rounds or slices of grilled eggplant, a few halves of cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkling of zaatar spice. Top with another slice or two of Jarlsberg cheese.

    Smear the next slice of bread with some Yemenite hot sauce. Top the sandwich with the second slice of bread, and press to seal.

    Cook the Middle Eastern grilled cheese sandwich:

    Smear bread with butter or olive oil on both sides. Cook in a panini press or in the same hot pan you cooked the eggplant, about 3-4 minutes per side, until the Jarlsberg cheese is melted and gooey. If cooking in a pan, try to weigh down the grilled cheese with a plate or lid or just press down with a spatula.

    Serve eggplant grilled cheese immediately with additional Yemenite hot sauce and tahini for dipping. Mixing the tahini and Yemenite hot sauce also works really well!

    assembling an eggplant grilled cheese sandwich

    What is the best cheese to use in an eggplant grilled cheese?

    Hands down, the best cheese for ANY grilled cheese is 100% Jarlsberg cheese. I love how it stretches when it melts, and the way it pairs with strong flavors like eggplant, tahini and Yemenite hot sauce.

    Yemenite hot sauce (schug)

    What makes this a Middle Eastern grilled cheese?

    The use of strong, bold, forward-thinking flavors like eggplant and zaatar makes this grilled cheese a shoo-in for the Middle Eastern kitchen. This grilled cheese reminds me of a sandwich you'd eat in Aroma in Israel, or from a grilled toast stand in the Jerusalem Ben Yehuda souk.

    The inclusion of incredible homemade Yemenite hot sauce called schug is something that few people in North America think of, but it makes this eggplant grilled cheese so flavorful and delicious!

    The funny thing is, those schug alone can taste pretty spicy, once you put it in a Jarlsberg grilled cheese sandwich the cheese really mitigates the spice level and you hardly feel it. Instead, you just taste a deep, zesty layer of flavor that elevates the whole grilled cheese!

    eggplant grilled cheese on cutting board

    Scaling the recipe

    Feel free to increase the recipe as much as you need, depending on how many people you're feeding. The quantities provided here make 1-4 eggplant grilled cheese sandwiches, and a person usually eats one.

    grabbing a grilled cheese triangle

    Can you store grilled cheese sandwiches for later?

    I don't recommend keeping and reheating grilled cheese sandwiches, as the cheese melts best when it's freshly made in a pan. But if you do end up with leftovers, you can always reheat them in an oven set to 350F. You can also reheat them in the microwave, if you don't mind soggy bread.

    assembled eggplant grilled cheese

    Adaptations

    I make this eggplant grilled cheese as a gluten-free grilled cheese for me.

    To make it vegan, you'd have to use a plant-based cheese.

    To make it paleo, keto grilled cheese or whole 30 appropriate, use a Folios cheese wrap instead of the bread and don't toast it at all. It taste amazing - the heat from the grilled eggplant will melt the Jarlsberg cheese beautifully!

    grilled cheese on board with yemenite hot sauce

    What pairs well with eggplant grilled cheese?

    This flavorful, savory Jarlsberg and eggplant grilled cheese sandwich goes really well for lunch. I recommend serving it with salads (even a simple Israeli salad will do!), hummus and veggies, or a soup in winter. I like this raffertys potato soup recipe for a filling side!

    Try these dishes with Middle Eastern eggplant grilled cheese:

    • Recipes for easy springtime Middle Eastern entertaining with wine: spring hummus with crispy chickpeas, goat cheese with herbs and wine-soaked strawberries {GF, Veg, V}
    • Black eyed pea masabacha
      Black eyed peas masabacha with tahini, tomatoes, garlic and hot peppers {GF, V}
    • two bowls of soup with ingredients
      Creamy roasted eggplant soup recipe that is made in one pan
    • bulgur salad with feta, blood oranges, pomegranate seed in big bowl
      Bulgur salad with feta, blood orange and pomegranate seeds
    eggplant grilled cheese and knife on board

    When to serve this eggplant grilled cheese?

    This Middle Eastern grilled cheese sandwich will become your favourite lunch once you try it. Pair it with a salad or soup for a filling meal!

    I also love it as a weekend breakfast grilled cheese, when you’re looking for that something special to start your day.

    Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.

    Pin for Later!

    Eggplant grilled cheese is the best Middle Eastern grilled cheese EVER!

    Recipe

    stack of grilled cheese sandwiches on plate

    Eggplant grilled cheese with cherry tomatoes, zaatar, tahini and Yemenite hot sauce

    Ksenia Prints
    The Middle Eastern grilled cheese is filled with oozing Jarlsberg cheese, melted over slices of grilled eggplant, cherry tomatoes and slathered in Yemenite green hot sauce and tahini.
    Make this a gluten-free grilled cheese by using gluten-free bread. My favourites include Little Northern Bakehouse Honey Oat bread, or Promise Gluten-Free Rustic Sourdough Bread.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course grilled cheese, Lunch, Main Course, sandwich, sandwiches
    Cuisine Israeli, Jewish, Middle Eastern
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 350 kcal

    Equipment

    • Non-stick pan
    • Oven
    • Chef's Knife
    • Cutting Board

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • 1 small eggplant
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
    • 2 slices of jarlsberg cheese per grilled cheese sandwich
    • 1 tablespoon zaatar
    • 2 slices of your favourite bread per grilled cheese sandwich gluten-free bread works great!

    Yemenite hot sauce (schug):

    • 2-3 jalapeno peppers
    • ⅓ cup diced cilantro
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • pinch of cardamom
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon of black pepper

    Tahini sauce:

    • 4 tablespoon tahini paste
    • 2 tablespoon water
    • ¼ lemon juice of
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    Grill eggplant slices:

    • Slice eggplant into rounds or slices (depending on the size of your bread).
    • Bring a non-stick pan to medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of oil. Arrange as many eggplant slices as a you can fit in a single layer, without overlapping, in the pan. Fry eggplant until both sides are browned, flipping in the middle, about 8-10 minutes in total. Remove eggplant slices onto a paper towel-covered plate, and sprinkle with salt.
    • Repeat until all eggplant slices are cooked, adding 2-3 tablespoons of oil with every batch.

    Prepare tahini sauce

    • In a blender or a jar, mix raw tahini with water, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir, shake or blend well to combine. You should end up with a slightly runny, thick tahini sauce.

    Make Yemenite hot sauce (schug)

    • Put all the schug ingredients in a food processor with a steel blade and process to a smooth mash. Store in a jar in the refrigerator.

    Assemble Middle Eastern grilled cheese

    • On one piece of bread, spread a generous layer of tahini. Lay one slice of Jarlsberg cheese. Top with a few rounds or slices of grilled eggplant, a few halves of cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkling of zaatar spice. Top with another slice or two of Jarlsberg cheese.
    • Smear the next slice of bread with some Yemenite hot sauce. Top the sandwich with the second slice of bread, and press to seal.

    Cook the Middle Eastern grilled cheese sandwich:

    • Smear bread with butter or olive oil on both sides. Cook in a panini press or in the same hot pan you cooked the eggplant, about 3-4 minutes per side, until the Jarlsberg cheese is melted and gooey. If cooking in a pan, try to weigh down the grilled cheese with a plate or lid or just press down with a spatula.
    • Serve eggplant grilled cheese immediately with additional Yemenite hot sauce and tahini for dipping. Mixing the tahini and Yemenite hot sauce also works really well!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 7gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 681mgPotassium: 678mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 832IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 4mg

    Watch the Video

    Keyword cheese, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, grilled cheese, grilling, jalapeno, Jarlsberg, spicy, tahini, zaatar
    Tried this recipe?Comment + Rate Below!
    Connect on Instagram!Find us @immigrantstable

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    1. veenaazmanov says

      June 22, 2021 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      Sounds like a healthy and delicious and cheesy veg sandwich and perfect for any meal. Look good.

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:32 am

        Yes! Veena, are you Israeli as well? I'm sure you are very familiar with schug

        Reply
    2. Chef Dennis says

      June 22, 2021 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! This eggplant grilled cheese looks absolutely mouthwatering! I am so excited to make this. The sauce is perfect!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:32 am

        The sauce is a huge gamechanger!

        Reply
    3. Allyssa says

      June 23, 2021 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      Thanks a lot for sharing this eggplant grilled cheese recipe! It turned out really good and flavorful! Will make it again!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:32 am

        I'm thrilled it worked for you!

        Reply
    4. GUNJAN C Dudani says

      June 23, 2021 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      I never thought of putting eggplant in a sandwich. I am intrigued. I must try this. Looks super delicious.

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:31 am

        Oh eggplants are a very typical ingredient in Israel!

        Reply
    5. Liz says

      June 23, 2021 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      I just recently tried schug for the first time and I'm OBSESSED! I've been trying to find new ways to use it and this eggplant grilled cheese is my new favorite!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:30 am

        It's a game changer!!!! I love it with potatoes and eggs

        Reply
    6. Jere Cassidy says

      June 23, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      This sandwich is a game-changer for the eggplant. I would never have thought of making a grilled cheese this way. Definite yum!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:29 am

        Yes! It takes eggplant in a whole new direction

        Reply
    7. Elizabeth says

      June 24, 2021 at 8:31 am

      5 stars
      We planted some eggplants in our garden this year and I've been trying to think of something to use them for other than eggplant parm. This is perfect!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:29 am

        Oh my god you are so lucky!!! I wish I had room to grow my own eggplant

        Reply
    8. Hayley Dhanecha says

      June 25, 2021 at 4:18 pm

      My Mum's all-time obsession has been aubergines! I love your middle eastern version - Ill have to make it for her one day!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:28 am

        Oh she will LOVE this recipe!

        Reply
    9. Chef Dennis says

      June 25, 2021 at 8:25 pm

      5 stars
      This looks insanely, incredibly good. Yummy!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:25 am

        Thanks! Let me know how it worked for you

        Reply
    10. Natalia says

      June 26, 2021 at 2:21 am

      I love everything about this! Eggplants and cheese are one of my favorite sandwich combos, they are healthy while still being a tasty lunch!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:25 am

        Mine too - eggplant and cheese just go so well together

        Reply
    11. Toni says

      June 26, 2021 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      My kids loved it!!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:25 am

        Amazing!

        Reply
    12. Kyleigh says

      June 27, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      5 stars
      All the flavors were amazing! I love the eggplant!

      Reply
    13. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

      June 27, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      WOW! This is not only gorgeous but perfect for summer! This was a huge hit for my guests that are both vegetarian and meat lovers! So hearty and summery! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:24 am

        That makes me so happy! It fits beautifully in a summer spread, or for a simple lunch.

        Reply
    14. Debbie says

      June 27, 2021 at 9:57 pm

      5 stars
      What a lovely twist on a classic ! I mean adding the eggplant adds so much heartiness and the Yemenite hot sauce sounds amazing . I will be trying this Eggplant Grilled cheese very soon.

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:24 am

        Yes! It takes it in a new, unexpected and wholly delicious direction

        Reply
    15. Adriana says

      June 28, 2021 at 12:50 am

      5 stars
      Eggplant is a great addition to a grilled cheese. Cannot wait to make it at home!

      Reply
      • kseniaprints says

        July 08, 2021 at 10:24 am

        It really takes grilled cheese in a whole new direction!

        Reply

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    Privet, I am Ksenia Prints! A food and travel blogger, photographer and storyteller. I help adventurous home cooks explore the world through healthy, beautiful immigrant recipes.

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