Warm melty grilled cheese and creamy tomato soup, who can resist? This delightful sandwich combines the taste of both for a grilled cheese combination that’s hard to beat.
It’s also hard to believe that something as innocent as a regular grilled cheese sandwich could gobble up over 1/3 of your daily calorie budget – but of course when done “restaurant style,” it can. A quick analysis of the most simple grilled cheese sandwiches at a few popular restaurant chains reveals a typical grilled cheese sandwich clocks in with over 500 calories, 35 grams of fat and a 1,000 mg of sodium. And that’s leaving out the colossal double and triple cheese versions.
I don’t know about you, but spending one third of my day’s calories (for my WW friends, 14 precious points!), and two-thirds of of a day’s worth of saturated fat on a simple sandwich is simply too much. That’s why I’m really excited to share this super fun, super delicious, alternative. Not only do you get your grilled cheese cravings satisfied for just 180 calories and 6 grams of fat (and 5 little “points”), but it comes with a souper twist – the great taste of tomato soup built right in!
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
Tomato Spread
1/4 cup low fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil (or ½ teaspoon dried)
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
4 American 2% singles or sharp cheddar cheese slices
8 slices light white bread
Instructions
1. Place the cream cheese, tomato paste, basil, sugar, and black pepper in a small bowl and mix thoroughly to combine.
2. Spread 1 rounded tablespoon of the tomato spread on half of the slices of bread. Top with a slice of cheese and close sandwich with remaining bread.
3. Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Place sandwich in the hot skillet and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown. Flip the sandwich and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes or until cheese is melted and underside is golden brown.
Calories 180 | Fat 6 grams (3.5 sat) | Carb 23 grams (sugars 3 gms) |Fiber 4 gram | Protein 11 grams | Chol 20 mg |Sodium 62 mg Food Exchanges – 1 1/2 Bread, 1 1/2 Lean Meat | carb choices 1 1/2 | Weight watcher point plus comparison – 5 points
