How is it possible for a Vegan Grilled recipe to beat out more than 65 real-cheese entries at the Grilled Cheese Invitational?  Well if you try Jenny Harrison's winning entry, you'll understand why. We haven't even tried it at the Spicy Brandt Test Kitchen, and yet it's making our mouth water.  Looks fabulous!

Interesting note: we aren't even real fans of Diaya. but wondering if this combination won't just put iton the other side of winning! 

Here's the recipe taken from the Diaya website: 

Friggin' Figgin' Vegan Grilled Cheese

By Jenny Harrison

• 4 tbsp fig butter (or jam)
• 2 dried figs, chopped
• 4 slices of olive bread
• vegan margarine
• 2 large handfuls of Daiya Mozzarella shreds
• Powdered sugar
• Orange reduction glaze
  -1 can frozen orange juice concentrate (12 oz.)
  -2 tbsp. white sugar
  -7 tbsp. powdered sugar 

In a small bowl, combine the fig butter and chopped figs, then set aside.

On the stove top, heat a medium sized pan over medium-high heat.

Take 2 pieces of olive bread and butter both sides. On the other 2 pieces, butter one side, then spread the fig butter on the other.

Place the butter only pieces of bread in the pan.

Once the bottoms have lightly browned (about 2 minutes), flip them over to start browning the alternate side, and immediately place a large handful of cheese on each piece. 

Once the bottoms of the cheese-topped pieces are browned (about another 2 minutes), place the pieces of bread with the fig butter on top of the cheese, so that the fig butter side is face down on top of the cheese.

Carefully flip both sandwiches and grill until the sandwich is nicely browned on both sides. 

Transfer your grilled cheese to serving plates, dust lightly with some powdered sugar, and lightly drizzle with the orange reduction glaze.

To make the orange reduction glaze:

Over high heat, in a medium sized pot, bring the orange juice concentrate and both sugars to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce begins to boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes, until it becomes light amber in colour. Remove from heat and let cool.

Let us know if you like it!

SpicyBrandt

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