Crispy and Melty Grilled Cheese and Pulled Pork Sandwich on Sourdough Bread
A grilled cheese pulled pork sandwich with a crispy mashed potato crust on the outside, melty cheese and saucy pork in the middle, all held together by buttery sourdough.
Ingredients
For the pulled pork
- Use the pulled pork recipe from my Sourdough Hawaiian Roll Pulled Pork Sandwiches post. You'll need about 200 grams (1 cup) of pulled pork with sauce for 2 sandwiches.
For the garlic herb butter
- 56 grams (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic grated on a microplane
- 5 grams (2 tablespoons) fresh parsley roughly chopped
- 2 grams (½ teaspoon or a pinch) fine sea salt
For the mashed potatoes
- 2 medium russet potatoes about 400 grams or 14 ounces, boiled and peeled
- 56 grams (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter softened
- 15 grams (1 tablespoon) whole milk room temperature
- 3 grams (¾ teaspoon) fine sea salt
For the sandwiches
- 4 slices sourdough bread about ½ inch thick
- 4 slices muenster cheese
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 30 grams (2 tablespoons) olive oil
- 14 grams (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter
Instructions
Make the pulled pork
- Prepare the pulled pork according to my Pulled Pork Sandwiches on Sourdough Hawaiian Rolls recipe.You'll need about 200 grams (1 cup) for the 2 sandwiches in this recipe. Warm it gently before assembling. The rest can be used for other recipes or freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
Make the mashed potatoes
- Peel the potatoes.Cut them into 1-2 inch chunks. Place them in a saucepan.Cover them with cold water by about an inch.Add a generous pinch of salt.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.Then reduce to a simmer and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Drain well and return to the pot. Mash with a potato masher or fork until smooth.
- Add the softened butter and the room temperature milk. Mix until creamy.
- Season with salt and stir to combine. Set aside to cool slightly.
Make the garlic herb butter
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, grated garlic, chopped parsley, and salt. Stir to combine.
Assemble the sandwiches
- Spread the garlic herb butter on one side of all 4 slices of sourdough bread. The buttered side is the inside of the sandwiches.
- Grab a slice and, on the buttered side, layer 2 slices of muenster cheese, then a generous scoop of pulled pork, then 2 slices of mozzarella cheese.Repeat with another slice.
- Top both stacks with the remaining 2 slices of bread, buttered side facing the filling. You should have two assembled sandwiches with the unbuttered sides facing out.
Cook the sandwiches
- Spread a thin, even layer of mashed potatoes on the top outer side of each sandwich. Cover the entire surface edge to edge.Press the mashed potatoes inside all the nooks and crannies of the bread.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a clean cast iron skillet over medium heat, just until the butter is melted.- Medium heat is important here, instead of the typical low heat used for other grilled cheese sandwiches, because the mashed potatoes need it to become crispy.A 12" skillet can cook both sandwiches at once, but if your skillet is smaller, then cook one sandwich at a time.
- As soon as the butter has melted, place both sandwiches in the skillet, mashed potato side down. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the potato crust is deeply golden and crispy.The trick to a crispy potato crust is patience. Don't move the sandwich around in the pan, just let it sit and develop that golden color before flipping.
- While the first side cooks, spread mashed potatoes on the other outer side of each sandwich, just like you had done before.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter to the pan.As soon as the butter has melted, carefully flip the sandwiches with a spatula. Cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until the second side is golden and crispy and the cheese inside is fully melted.
- Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 1 minute before slicing in half and serving. If not eating them immediately, I recommend placing the sandwiches on a wire rack so they don't become soggy on the side resting on the plate.
Notes
- This recipe is designed to use up leftover pulled pork from my Pulled Pork on Sourdough Hawaiian Rolls recipe. That recipe makes enough for the rolls and for these 2 sandwiches.
- If you have leftover mashed potatoes, they make great savory pancakes the next morning. Just form into patties and pan-fry until golden. Or you can eat them with more of the pulled pork as another meal.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
