Wednesday, January 13, 2010

No such thing as too many sandwiches


Patty Melts with Grilled Onions
Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2009 Copyright 2008

8 (1/8-inch-thick) slices Vidalia or other sweet onion
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Cooking spray
1 pound extralean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons creamy mustard blend (such as Dijonnaise)
8 (1-ounce) slices rye bread
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Jarlsberg cheese I used slices of low-fat Swiss

1. Arrange onion slices on a plate. Drizzle vinegar over onion slices. Heat a large grill pan over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; cover and cook 3 minutes on each side. Remove from pan; cover and keep warm.

2. Heat pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Divide beef into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Sprinkle patties evenly with salt and pepper. Add patties to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done.

3. Spread about 1 teaspoon mustard blend over 4 bread slices; layer each slice with 2 tablespoons cheese, 1 patty, 2 onion slices, and 2 tablespoons cheese. Spread about 1 teaspoon mustard blend over remaining bread slices; place, mustard side down, on top of sandwiches.

4. Heat pan over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sandwiches to pan. Place a cast-iron or other heavy skillet on top of sandwiches; press gently to flatten. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until bread is toasted (leave cast-iron skillet on sandwiches while they cook).

I used my Griddler - I cooked the onions, then the burgers, wiped off the Griddler then grilled the sandwiches.

Nutritional Information:Calories:341 (25% from fat) Fat:9.6g (sat 4.4g,mono 3.2g,poly 1g) Protein:31.5g Carbohydrate:31.1g Fiber:3.6g Cholesterol:60mg Iron:3mg Sodium:754mg Calcium:350mg
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I love grilled sandwiches. Patty melts were one of the original grilled sandwiches in my life. I've had this recipe on my list for a while but it sounded a bit fiddly, calling for several pans but I just used my Griddler for each step and it worked out well.

These were a nice step up from cheeseburgers. I did double the amount of cheese (I used 1 oz slices, 2 per sandwich) but they were still on the light side. There's no butter or oil on the bread. It really isn't necessary.

I am safe serving anything on bread or a bun to my husband. I used to avoid sandwiches during the week (we seem to eat so many on the weekend) but I've been trying to make at least one per week now. I seem to be the only one in the house concerned about variety and they are easy.

I'm tired of winter and just plain tired. I can't wait until spring.

Question of the Day: Have you ever had a patty melt?

6 comments:

Mrs. L said...

Not a fan of rye bread so I haven't had them often, but I have had them. I usually ask that they be made with wheat bread if possible.

KatiePerk said...

I love a pattymelt! These sound so good.

Annie Jones said...

I love patty melts. They're so much better than a cheeseburger on a bun, IMO. I also love other grilled sammies, like Reubens and tuna melts. Yum!

Jeanette said...

I love patty melts. It is the only time I eat meat anymore. I have never been able to make them moist enough at home and only get them at Denny's. I will be trying this recipe this week. Yum!

Cyndi said...

Not only have I had patty melts, I've had THOSE patty melts - that exact same recipe. Loved it; it's on my list to do again this month. I have the rye in the freezer.

Tammy said...

This looks so yummy Paula! I may get the stuff to make this this weekend for myself.

Also, just looking at the sidebar in your blog....can you believe you've been doing this for almost 5 years already?! Time sure flies! I remember when you first started it!