I was absolutely delighted to discover the agreeable marriage of bananas and grilled cheese in my “5 Grilled Cheese Sandwiches from 5 Countries” episode! At first, I will admit that I was skeptical about the use of banana in a grilled cheese. But I stand corrected, and I am now urging you to try this novel dish that still has me processing the intriguing taste of banana and cheese! 

 This Banana Grilled Cheese recipe comes from Annika, who hails from Saxony-Anhalt in Germany! Annika was gracious enough to share her grandmother’s recipe for this grilled cheese, which warms my heart. It makes total sense that this recipe originates in a grandmother’s kitchen, as it is comforting, sweet, and innovative! Annika tells us that her grandma was the one to add bananas, as this sandwich is usually known as a Welsh rarebit and only contains cheese and spices. Thank you, Annika’s grandmother! 

 When you make this grilled cheese, you’ll start by spreading butter on one piece of toast before covering it in slices banana. Although you can add slices of ham for the savory aspect of this dish, Annika doesn’t eat meat and prefers to use salt, which she tells us gives the same effect. From here, you’ll cover everything in gouda or your favorite cheese, place the completed sandwich in the oven, and bake until the edges are golden brown. You can also grill the sandwich if you don’t have an oven! Either way, you’ll want to add a sprinkle of paprika powder across both sides of the sandwich while it’s cooling. 

 I must say that fruits have ended up in places in which I wouldn’t expect to find them since I started this channel. But I’m not complaining, because I get to try foods like this excellent German Banana Grilled Cheese! At first bite, I was delightfully confused by the combination of flavors, but man oh man, this sandwich is yummy. The smoked paprika and the salt do some heavy lifting to balance out the sweetness of the banana, resulting in an exquisite final product. The banana itself is meaty in texture with an understated sweetness that blends well with savory cheese! 

 I am so intrigued by this sandwich and how it came to be. Kudos to Annika’s grandmother and to those who attempt this recipe! Once you take that first bite of warm ooey-gooeyness, I’m sure you’ll want more of it. Just don’t forget to come back and let me know what you think of the banana and cheese combination in the comments. It’s still so new to me, but I sure am loving it!