Patty Melt

A CLASSIC PATTY MELT IS A SANDWICH CONSISTING OF A

 HAMBURGER PATTY BETWEEN TWO SLICES OF BREAD, 

JUST AS EARLY HAMBURGERS WERE SERVED.  

(TRADITIONALLY RYE BREAD, BUT OTHER BREADS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED).  
THE HAMBURGER IS PAN FRIED WITH BUTTER, TOPPED WITH 
CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SWISS CHEESE, THEN GRILLED TO 
MELT THE CHEESE, THOROUGHLY.  

IT IS UNCLEAR WHEN THE PATTY MELT WAS ACTUALLY INVENTED, BUT 

SOME RECORDS SHOW THEM BEING SERVED AS EARLY AS

THE 1940'S.  THE PATTY MELT IS ASSOCIATED WITH DINER FOOD, AND 

HAVE BEEN SAID TO HAVE INSPIRED THE TUNA MELT.

TYPICALLY THEY ARE SERVED WITH LETTUCE, TOMATO AND

PICKLES ON THE SIDE, AND NOT SERVED WITH ANY CONDIMENTS.  

I DECIDED TO PUT A LITTLE TWIST TO THIS TRADITIONAL PATTY

MELT.  SINCE THIS IS GRILLING SEASON, I INSISTED ON PUTTING A NICE

CHAR ON THEM.  I  ELEVATED THE FLAVOR OF

THE GROUND BEEF WITH A HINT OF WORCESTERSHIRE

SAUCE.  THEN I ADDED A SLAB OF BUTTER TO

THE CENTER OF EACH PATTY BEFORE GRILLING, TO

KEEP THE BURGERS MOIST.  REMEMBER, "FAT IS ALSO FLAVOR".

EVEN THOUGH OTHER CHEESES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED OVER THE YEARS,    

I DECIDED TO STICK WITH THE TRADITIONAL, SWISS.  IT WAS SIMPLY THE 

BEST BURGER I HAVE HAD IN SUCH A LONG TIME.  

PATTY MELT

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef

4 TBS Worcestershire Sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

8 slabs butter

2 large sweet onions, sliced and sautéed 

16 slices Swiss Cheese, or American

1 loaf Three Bakers Great Seed Bread

Lettuce, tomato and pickles, optional

Directions:

1.  In large mixing bowl add ground beef, Worcestershire.  Season with salt and pepper to liking.  Mix.  Mold into 8 (1/4 lb) balls.  Press center of each ball and place slab of butter.  Fold over to completely cover.  Mold into patties.  Spray and preheat grill on high heat.  Grill for 4 mins on each side, or until desired doneness.  

2.  Brush melted butter on both sides, of each slice of bread.  Place on upper part of grill to toast.  Approx. 2-3 mins on each side.

3.  To assemble:  Add cheese to toasted bread, top with patty, then with caramelized onions.  Top with additional slice of cheese, then with second slice of toasted bread.  Place back on grill, with cover closed (low heat) for an additional 2 mins, or until cheese is completely melted.

Makes 8 Patty Melts

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