Ham Pineapple Goat Cheese Grill-wich

I wanted a grilled sandwich! We had a lot of ham left in the fridge and that was a good start.  Combined with some crushed pineapple and a chunk of goat cheese I’ve been trying to work into a dish they sounded like a Hawaiian Grill-wich begging to be made.  Crisped up on a flat griddle, they would be fabulously delicious!

I started with slices of a crispy, rustic loaf of bread I picked up at the grocery. I layered goat cheese on both sides of the sandwiches, then covered one side with ham and crushed pineapple. Not a lot of pineapple, just a thin layer.

Layer bread with ham, pineapple and goat cheese

I preheated my flat griddle pan on the stove over medium heat, and buttered the tops of the sandwiches as I waited. When the grill was heated I placed the sandwiches buttered side down on them and let them grill until they were browned. While they grilled I buttered the new top sides of the sandwiches.

Butter the top slice of the sandwich, place them on the grill, then butter the top side

I flipped the sandwiches carefully and let them grill on the second side. I usually fling a piece or two out of the sandwich when I flip but it’s easily tucked back in, taking care to not burn fingers.  This is more easily done on my Panini press so it doesn’t have to be flipped, but I was too lazy to drag it out and preheat it for once..

Grill on one side until brown, then flip and brown on the second side

When the sandwiches were browned I plated them and cut them diagonally because that’s how grilled sandwiches are eaten. It’s one of the fun differences in having grilled sandwiches! I served them with a bowl of soup for lunch.

Ham, Pineapple, Goat Cheese Grill-wiches

The sandwich was excellent, because it was ham. And ham is just always good, you know? The pineapple added a great touch of acid and the goat cheese provided the creaminess and slight tang that tied it all together.  The crispness of the grilled bread is that final touch that pushes it over the edge of perfection.  It’s hard to eat a regular sandwich anymore now that I’ve been grilling or making Paninis so often!.

Ham, Goat Cheese and Pineapple Grill-wiches

4 slices of bread
Slices of ham
5 ounces of goat cheese
¼ cup of crushed pineapple
handful of fresh spinach (optional- I wished I had spinach on hand but did not)

Spread goat cheese on 4 slices of bread. Top with a layer of ham and a thin layer of crushed pineapple.

Layer leaves of spinach over the pineapple if desired.  Press slices of bread together and butter the top slice.

Preheat nonstick griddle on medium heat then carefully lay the sandwiches on the griddle buttered side down. When the bottoms are golden brown, flip sandwiches and brown on the second side.

When second side is browned, remove to plates and cut diagonally into 2 or 4 pieces.

2 servings