Meatless Monday Pear and Gruyere panini with tart cherry preserves

Banish the boring sandwich

Sandwiches can be a saving grace for mealtime when you're short on time. For something easy but special, try pear and Gruyere panini with tart cherry preserves for lunch or dinner — the flavors are perfect together!

Good food, good flavors, fast

How many times do you turn to sandwiches when you're running behind and really need to eat or get a meal together? If you're tired of PB&Js or egg salad, this is the sandwich for you! It's easy to put together and is full of great taste for a Meatless Monday meal.

Get your hands on this recipe for avocado, mozzarella and sun-dried tomato panini >>

The flavors of the Gruyere mixed with the peppery arugula, sweet pears and the tart cherries make for an exceptional sandwich. Tasty and versatile, this sandwich is perfect to serve for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Options are good

If you don't have everything you need to make this sandwich exactly as the recipe reads, don't sweat it! Try a few of these options:

If you prefer your sandwich a bit more on the traditional side, use Dijon mustard instead of the cherry preserves. You'll still get a great flavor combo.Can't find Gruyere cheese? Make it easy on yourself and use Swiss.Add sweet onions to this sandwich for added taste.If you don't have a panini maker, you can still enjoy this sandwich. Cook it like you would a traditional grilled cheese sandwich instead, but take a bit of care when it's time to flip it. Pear and Gruyere panini with tart cherry preserves

Serves 2

Ingredients:4 slices of crusty Italian-style bread or 2 thin crusty sandwich rolls1 pear, thinly sliced4 ounces thinly sliced Gruyere cheese1/8 cup arugula leaves, stems removed (more to taste)3 tablespoons tart cherry preserves (more to taste)ButterDirections:

Preheat your panini maker to medium-high heat.Butter one side of each slice of bread.On the unbuttered sides of two of the slices of bread, begin to build your sandwich by first spreading about one-and-one-half tablespoons of the cherry preserves on each of the two slices.Layer your sandwich with the arugula next, then the pear slices, and finally the cheese. Top with the remaining slices of bread, buttered side out.Place the sandwiches in the panini maker and cook for three to five minutes or until the bread begins to turn a light golden color.Slice the sandwiches in half and serve hot.

When you're pressed for time, this sandwich gives you an easy meal full of flavor!

More Meatless Monday meals to try

Spicy tofu banh mi sandwiches
Grilled Caesar salad with dressing
Walnut, apple and cheddar cheese pizza