Puttanesca Grilled Cheese with Fried Capers

This gourmet puttanesca grilled cheese is full of flavor on a rainy day!

Puttanesca Grilled Cheese with Fried Capers takes everything you love about the bold, briny Italian pasta dish and transforms it into a melty, crave-worthy sandwich. The homemade Puttanesca sauce—packed with tomatoes, olives, garlic, and anchovies—adds a savory, umami-rich punch to every bite, perfectly layered with gooey mozzarella cheese.

Toasted sourdough gives the sandwich a golden, crispy exterior, while the fried capers sprinkled on top add a burst of salt and crunch that takes it over the top. It’s a cozy, flavor-packed twist on grilled cheese that’s both comforting and unexpectedly sophisticated.

Definitely check out my other recipes for inspiration.

• Cozy Fall Comfort Meals

Puttanesca Grilled Cheese with Fried Capers

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1/4 cup olive oil
• ▢ 8 garlic cloves, crushed
• ▢ 3 anchovy fillets, chopped Optional- dont include if vegetarian
• ▢ 2 (15 ounce) cans Tuttorosso® Crushed Tomatoes Roasted Garlic
• ▢ 2 (14.5 ounce) cans Tuttorosso® Petite Diced Tomatoes
• ▢ 1/2 cup olives, pitted, plus 2 tablespoons Kalamata olive juice
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
• ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ▢ 1/4 cup canola oil, or fry oil of choice
• ▢ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/4 cup capers
• ▢ sourdough bread
• ▢ 3 slices fresh mozzarella cheese, or 1/2 cup shredded basil leaves, for topping
• ▢ olive oil

Instructions 

• In a large skillet or Dutch oven, over medium heat, add oil.  Cook garlic and onion until fragrant, 1 minute.  Add anchovies and cook 1 minute.  Add Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes Roasted Garlic and Tuttorosso Petite Diced Tomatoes, olives and red pepper flakes.  Add in olive juice.  Let come to a simmer, stirring often, about 15-20 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, add oil to a pan and let it heat.  Add flour to a bowl and drain capers.  Add capers to flour and coat evenly.  When the oil is hot, add capers.  Cook for about 3-5 minutes or until they start to brown and crisp.  Remove and place on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
• Add a thin layer of Puttanesca sauce to sour dough bread.  Add fried capers, mozzarella and a few sprigs of basil.  Add a piece of bread on top.  Add oil or butter to a pan and add sandwich.  Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes per side or until cheese is melted and bread is nicely browned. Remove and serve immediately.

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