Grilled Ham-and-Cheese Sandwiches with Tapenade
- 2 ounces Spanish green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped (1/4 cup)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of crushed red pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more olive oil for brushing
- Eight 1/2-inch-thick slices peasant bread from a 1-pound loaf
- 6 ounces sliced young Mahon or other young, mildly tangy cow's-milk cheese, such as Edam or Gouda
- 3 ounces thinly sliced lomo ham or thinly sliced Serrano ham trimmed of all fat
- In a bowl, combine the olives with the garlic, parsley, lemon juice, crushed red pepper and 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil.
- Preheat a grill pan or panini press.
- Arrange the bread slices on a work surface and brush one side of each slice with olive oil.
- Turn the oiled sides of the bread face down.
- Spread the olive tapenade on four slices of the bread.
- Top with the sliced Mahon cheese and lomo ham and close the sandwiches with the remaining slices of bread.
- Grill the sandwiches over moderate heat, turning once until the bread is lightly toasted and the cheese is melted, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Transfer the ham-and-cheese sandwiches to a cutting board, halve and serve at once.
green olives, garlic, flatleaf parsley, lemon juice, red pepper, extravirgin olive oil, bread, other young, ham
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/grilled-ham-and-cheese-sandwiches-tapenade (may not work)