The Ba Patty Melt Food

THE BA PATTY MELT

Steps:

• Caramelize Onions:
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat and cook 2 thinly sliced large onions, stirring often and adding water as needed to prevent burning, until deep golden brown and very soft, 20-25 minutes.
• Make & Cook Patties:
• Gently mix 1/4 small onion, finely chopped, 1 pound ground beef chuck (20% fat), 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a medium bowl. Divide into 4 portions and press each between 2 pieces of parchment or waxed paper until about 1/4 " thick (you want them roughly the same dimensions as the bread you're using).
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook patties, pressing gently, until browned but still pink in the center, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Do ahead: Patties can be formed 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Assemble & Press Melts
• Wipe out skillet; reduce heat to medium. Top 4 slices seeded rye bread with 4 ounces thinly sliced aged sharp cheddar, then patties, onions, 4 ounces thinly sliced Swiss cheese, and another 4 slices bread; spread tops with 1 teaspoon mayonnaise each. Cook, mayo side down and weighted with a foil-covered heavy pan, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove pan; spread top of each melt with 1 teaspoon mayonnaise. Flip; weight with pan. Cook until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.

CLASSIC PATTY MELT

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Mix the ground meat with the ketchup, Worcestershire, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Form the meat into 4 oblong patties in the approximate size and shape of the bread (they should be a little less than 1/2-inch-thick).
• Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet and heat it over medium-high heat until the foam subsides. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until cooked to medium doneness, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Add salt and pepper, if desired. Transfer to a plate.
• Wipe the skillet clean. Butter one side of half of the bread slices, then place them butter-side down in the skillet. Add a slice of cheese on top of each slice of bread, then add the patties and onions. Lay one more slice of cheese on top of the onions, then add the top slices of bread. Butter the top of the bread. Flip the sandwiches and cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Cook the remaining sandwiches with the remaining butter in the same manner.
• Cut the patty melts in half and serve immediately.

THE BEST PATTY MELT RECIPE

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat until foaming. Add 2 slices bread and swirl around pan using hand or spatula. Cook, swirling occasionally until pale golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to cutting board cooked-side up. Divide American cheese evenly between slices, layering them in the center and leaving a 1/4-inch gap around the edges.
• Repeat step 1 with remaining bread slices and Swiss cheese.
• Season hamburger patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Return skillet to heat to high and melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet until light brown. Swirl to coat bottom of skillet and add both burger patties. Cook without moving until dark brown crust forms on first side, about 1 1/2 minutes, reducing heat to medium if butter begins to burn or smoke excessively. Flip burgers using spatula and cook on second side without moving until crust develops, 1 1/2 minutes longer.
• Transfer burger patties to plate and reduce heat to medium. Add onions, 1 tablespoon butter, and 2 tablespoons water to skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly and scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet until water evaporates and onions start to fry and leave brown residue on bottom of pan. Add another 2 tablespoons water and continue to cook. Repeat 2 more times until water is used up and onions are soft and deep golden brown. Add collected juices from meat plate to onions and continue to cook for 30 seconds. Onions should be moist, but not dripping.
• Divide onion mixture evenly between cheese-topped toast slices. Add burger patties to slices with American cheese and close sandwiches.
• Add 1 tablespoon butter to skillet. Return to medium heat and cook until butter melts. Sprinkle with salt. Swirl to coat pan and add sandwiches. Cook, swirling sandwiches around pan frequently until deep golden brown on bottom, about 5 minutes. Remove sandwiches from skillet, melt remaining tablespoon butter in pan and sprinkle with salt. Return sandwiches to skillet and cook, swirling frequently until second side is golden brown and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

CLASSIC PATTY MELT

Steps:

• Season ground beef with salt and pepper and divide into 3 equal-sized balls. Shape each ball as close as possible to the shape of the bread. Make an indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the skillet and divide into 3 equal portions. Place beef patties into the same skillet and cook until desired doneness, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, spread 1 teaspoons mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread.
• Place bread mayonnaise side-down in the skillet. Top with 1 slice of cheese, 1 beef patty, 1/3 of the onions, a second slice of cheese, and another slice of bread, mayonnaise side up. Cook bread until golden brown and cheese has started to melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip each sandwich over and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

PATTY MELTS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat. Throw in the sliced onions and cook slowly until the onions are golden brown and soft, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, Worcestershire and some salt and pepper. Form into 4 patties.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties on both sides until totally done in the middle.
• Assemble the patty melts this way: Slice of bread, slice of cheese, hamburger patty, a quarter of the cooked onions, another slice of cheese and another slice of bread.
• On a clean griddle or in a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and grill the sandwiches until golden brown. Remove the sandwiches and add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Return the sandwiches to the skillet, flipping them to the other side. Cook until golden brown and crisp, and until the cheese is melted. Slice in half and serve immediately!