The classic sandwich just got more interesting.
I really didn’t think a peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be improved. The appeal of this simple childhood lunch classic continues into adulthood. PB&J is an icon for many reasons. One Instagram creator managed to improve upon a classic technique using simple ingredients, and I couldn’t be more impressed.
In addition to the classic combination of bread, peanut butter, and jelly, Brian Suarez (@bshnuez) gives PB&J a super flavorful upgrade with the addition of grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Suare, clean-shaven over an open sandwich, shared in a recent video that he actually met his girlfriend through this fictional PB&J.
Suarez said he made a sandwich for the pop-up, but it wasn’t well-received by organizers. “The people who ran the space I sold this to hated it,” Suarez wrote. But he loved it. And it turns out other people liked it too. “This is the best. It also helped me meet my girlfriend. Guys, if you want to meet the love of your life, learn to cook. The simplest food is always king.” With that endorsement, I had to try this sandwich.
How to add cheese to PB&J
In his video, Suarez walks you through the step-by-step process of making PB&J with Pecorino Romano. In the video, he butters thick slices of bread and griddles them, then assembles the sandwich with a thick layer of peanut butter, homemade raspberry jam, and grated Pecorino Romano.
I didn’t have the ingredients (or inclination) to make my own jam, but I did have a squeeze bottle of my forever beloved Smucker’s Seedless Raspberry Jam and recreated a super easy version. After toasting two slices of white bread with a tablespoon of butter, I spread one slice with my favorite peanut butter (Peter Pan Honey Roast) and the other with jam.
When it came time to start grating cheese on top of my perfectly delicious PB&J, I’ll admit I was hesitant. But I was already committed and didn’t allow myself to run away. I grabbed a wedge of Locatelli Pecorino Romano and used my trusty Microplane grater to scrape super-fine squiggles of cheese all over the inside.
So, can you really use cheese here?
After gluing two pieces of bread together, I sunk my teeth into an experimental PPB&J and was immediately captivated by the concept. The cheese itself is not really discernible. Instead, it brings a savory saltiness that rounds out the whole thing.
After that first sandwich, I started thinking about adding more Pecorino Romano the next time I made PPB&J to mix the rich, creamy peanut butter with the sweet, slightly tangy jam. You could also use other flavors of jam (perhaps fig or blueberry) to create even more complexity. It might be fun to swap it out with other cheeses, like Manchego or Parmesan.
You probably don’t always reach for cheese when you have a PB&J craving, but adding a little bit can be surprisingly appealing. It’s easy to see why Suarez’s current girlfriend is impressed. This is the perfect dish when you want to taste sweetness, umami, saltiness, and richness all at once.
