With the cooling weather I have been thinking about cold weather dishes more often like moussaka, a Mediterranean casserole consisting of layers of meat in a tomato sauce, eggplant and a bechamel sauce. During the summer I made some burgers inspired by moussaka and given my fascination with grilled cheese sandwiches I could not help but think that a moussaka patty melt would also be great! For this sandwich I start out with patties of ground lamb seasoned simply with a bit of garlic and cinnamon, topped with a layer of grilled eggplant, a simple and yet tasty tomato sauce and of course plenty of melted cheese! Speaking of cheese, I went with a Greek cheese, graviera, which melts well so it is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches. When I made the moussaka burgers I used a bechamel sauce which is a bit to wet to go inside a grilled cheese sandwich but it does go great as a topping along with some extra tomato sauce!
Just look at all of that amazing melted cheesy goodness!
Moussaka Patty Melt
Patty melts inspired by the flavours of moussaka with spiced meat patties, grilled eggplant and a tasty tomato sauce.
ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 cup tomato (fresh or canned), pureed
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1/4 cup onion, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small eggplant, sliced
- 8 slices bread
- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups graviera or gruyere or mozzarella, grated
For the tomato sauce:
For the patties:
For the patty melts:
directions
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the pureed tomato, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, salt and pepper and simmer until it thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Mix the meat, onion, cinnamon, allspice, salt and pepper, form relatively thin patties and pan-fry over medium-high heat until cooked, about 3-5 minutes per side.
- Brush the eggplant with oil and grill or pan-fry over medium-high heat (or broil) until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Butter one side of each slice of bread, sprinkle half of the cheese onto the unbuttered side of half of the slices of bread followed by the patties, eggplant, 2 tablespoons tomato sauce (per sandwich), the remaining cheese and finally top with the remaining slice of bread with the buttered side up.
- Grill over medium heat until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes per side.
For the tomato sauce:
For the patties:
For the patty melts:
Greek Style Bechamel Cheese Sauce
A simple bechamel sauce with the addition of the Greek graviera cheese.
ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup graviera or gruyere or mozzarella, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- salt, pepper and cayenne to taste
directions
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat and cook until it turns a light golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the flour and simmer until it turns a light golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the milk and simmer until it thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cheese and let it melt.
- Season with nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper to taste.
I love your moussaka creations, Kevin. This looks like dinner.
What kind of grill do you use for making your sandwiches or what kind of pan?
Anonymous: I usually use a none-stick pan or a cast iron pan to grill sandwiches like this.
Can I marry you? Seriously though, love your recipies! You should open a restaurant..!
why can I no longer post your recipes to FB???
Nancy Long: How were you trying to post on Facebook? With the button Like button on my site?
YUM! This looks so amazing, Kevin!
oh YUM! another one to try! thank you. I LOVE eggplant &
your recipes. thank you
Oh my, Kevin. This looks insane! My Greek grandmother will only eat patty melts lately, and she would go nuts for this.
Shut. Freaking. Up.
This looks 9 kinds of wonderful!
you know…you could put the bechamel on top and broil like a croque madame yummmmmmmmmmmmm
Didi Duck: Yes, that would also be great!