Grilled cheese is a go-to meal any night of the week, but especially on those nights when you’re looking to get cozy. For our veganized version, we’ve paired a savory plant-based cheese with the sweetness of grilled pears and candied pecans. To give this recipe a fall vibe and some added nutrients, we decided to add some pumpkin purée. So kick up your grilled cheese game, and settle into this delectable fall dish.
What you need:
For the candied pecans:
2 tablespoons sugar
⅓ cup pecans
For the sandwich:
1 pear
4 slices bread
1 tablespoon vegan butter
4 slices vegan cheese
1 can (15 ounces) canned pumpkin purée
What you do:
1. Into a medium-sized skillet, melt the sugar over medium heat. Once the sugar starts to melt butter, add pecans and stir to coat the pecans with sugar, keeping an eye on the sugar to make sure it doesn’t burn). Place the candied pecans on a plate to cool, and set aside.
2. Into the same skillet, add your sliced pears and sauté them until golden brown, then flip and sauté on the other side.
3. Heat a separate large skillet to medium heat. Butter all four of your bread slices on one side, and place the buttered sides down in the skillet. Add your cheese slices, pears, purée, and candied pecans. Top with second bread slice (no flipping needed), and serve.