Bikini Sandwiches
Bikini sandwiches consist of buttered toasted bread topped with Manchego cheese and serrano ham. Each bite is warm, buttery, and layered with subtle tang and umami.
- 20 min
- Serves 2
- 4 ingredients
Steps
- Top 2 bread slices evenly with serrano ham, followed by a sprinkle of 1/2 cup Manchego on each. Place remaining 2 bread slices on top of Manchego. Spread butter evenly on both sides of sandwiches.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add sandwiches to skillet; lightly cover with aluminum foil, then place a large cast-iron skillet on top to compress. (Alternatively, use a heavy skillet weighted with 2 heavy cans.) Cook, flipping sandwiches once and adjusting heat as necessary, until bread is golden brown and toasted and cheese melts, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer sandwiches to a cutting board. Cut the crusts off, then cut into triangles. Serve immediately. Recipe developed by Jasmine Smith
Frequently asked questions
What can I use instead of Manchego cheese?
Any firm sheep or cow milk cheese that melts will do, such as Gruyere, young Pecorino or a mild provolone. Manchego is nutty and slightly tangy, so a very mild cheese will make the sandwich taste mostly of the ham and butter.
What can I use instead of serrano ham?
Prosciutto is the closest swap and behaves the same way in the pan. Any thinly sliced dry-cured ham works, but avoid cooked deli ham, which is wetter and will steam the bread rather than crisp with it.
Do I need a sandwich press to make these?
No. The method presses them under a second heavy skillet, and it suggests weighting that with two heavy cans if it is not heavy enough on its own. The foil underneath stops the top pan sticking to the butter.
Why does the bread brown before the cheese melts?
The pan is too hot. Medium is the setting here, and the method explicitly says to adjust the heat as you go so that 2 to 3 minutes a side gets you both toasted bread and melted cheese. Shredding the Manchego rather than slicing it also helps it melt in that window.
Can I assemble these sandwiches ahead of time?
You can build them ahead and keep them covered in the fridge, but cook them to order. They are served straight from the pan and cut into triangles, and reheating a pressed sandwich makes the bread tough.
What do you serve with bikini sandwiches?
They are usually eaten as a small plate, so olives, marcona almonds or a simple tomato salad suit them. Something sharp on the side balances the butter and the salt in the cured ham.