Mexican · main

Mexican Grilled Cheese

Mexican Grilled Cheese reads richness 5.2, sourness 4.8 and umami 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Mexican main, about 7 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 4.8 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 2.5 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 5.4 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 2.0 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 5.8 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 3.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 5.2 · Sourness 4.8 · Umami 4.5 · Heat 3.0 · Salinity 2.8 · Herbaceous 2.5 · Nutty 2.3 · Sweetness 2.0 · Earthy 1.9 · Fruity 1.8 · Citrus 1.8 · Bitterness 0.8 · Allium 0.6

What's in it (5)

• 2 slices whole wheat bread sandwich bread, or multigrain,
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese grated
• 2 tablespoons salsa any your favorite flavor
• 1 tablespoon pickled jalapenos rings, or as needed
• 1/2 tablespoon butter, unsalted for frying

Time & effort: about 7 min · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 212 kcal, 10.9 g protein, 9.6 g fat, 21 g carbs

Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (9 steps)

1. Place one slice of bread on a cutting board.
2. Spread the cheese over the bread evenly, then salsa over the cheese, picked jalapeno rings over the salsa.
3. Place the remaining slice of bread on top to make a sandwich.
4. Heat the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until butter melts.
5. Place the sandwich into the pan, and cook until the bottom bread becomes golden, brown and crispy, and cheese melts, about 4 minutes.
6. Carefully flip the sandwich over to the other side with a rubber spatular.
7. You may need to lower the heat if your pan is getting too hot.
8. Cook the other side until golden and brown, another 3 to 5 minutes.
9. Transfer onto a serving plate, slice in to half and serve warm.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Chiles Rellenos — Mexican
• Tlayuda Oaxaquena — Mexican
• Ostri — Georgian
• Mexican Lasagna — Mexican
• Spicy Crock Pot Thai Chicken — Thai

Keep reading: what richness, sourness, umami mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.