Italian Patty Melts

By garciamoss

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed and chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 8 thick-cut slices sourdough bread
• 1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced
• 12 basil leaves
• 1/2 pound ball fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
• Mixed green salad, for serving

Details

Adapted from blog.cookingchanneltv.com

Preparation

Step 1

Place a large saute pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil, onions and thyme. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are tender and beginning to caramelize, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, 1 minute. Add the vinegar to the pan and cook to reduce, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the onions from the pan and reserve.

Wipe the pan clean and return to medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix the beef and pork together, and season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into four portions and shape into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Cook the patties to your liking, about 3 minutes per side for medium. Remove the patties from the pan.

Assemble the sandwiches by spreading the butter onto one side of each slice of bread. Keeping the buttered side out, assemble four sandwiches by layering the cooked patties, reserved onions, sliced tomato, basil and mozzarella.

Wipe the saute pan clean and return it to medium heat. Cook the sandwiches until the bread is toasted and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side.

Serve warm with a mixed green salad.

NOTE: When toasting your sandwiches, if they don’t all fit in the pan, prepare them in batches, keeping the sandwiches warm in a 200 degree F oven as they’re ready.