Melting the cheese is key
I got a sandwich maker recently. It's one of those appliances on the verge of impractical, especially if you don't have much storage space in your kitchen. Do people really use them, or do they just sit waiting on the shelf, between the juicer and the waffle maker? Valid questions.
For the record, my waffle maker sees frequent action, and so has the sandwich grill.
The joy of grilled sandwiches is in the bread, bun or whatever your outer layer. Lately, I've been buying beautiful baked ciabatta loafs. They're dense, heavy and the perfect size. And when you grill em right, they form a crisp outer crust that warms the contents of your panini.
The other reason to have a sandwich grill is, of course, to melt cheese. It really doesn't matter what type, as long as it's flowing.
The sandwiches pictured above had ham and turkey, old white cheddar, honey mustard, sweet pickles and tomatoes. I spray the grill with oil, squeeze it down, and a few minutes later we're ready.
They are close to perfect.
3 comments:
Hmmmm - not sure about the meatball status. "Round burger?" More like spherical burger or meaty falafal in sauce as many burgers are round in their formed way. Although flat, it's true.
Miss MLE
True, but as you acknowledge, a meatball is more round than a patty. There is no part of a meatball that is not round. Patties, however, have large flat surfaces. So, calling meatballs "roundburgers" is more true than using the term with burgers.
I considered using the term "spherical burger" or "sphereburger" but I thought it inelegant. But good suggestion.
Regarding home-grilled sandwiches
Hey Ryan,
Those sandwoiches look fantastic. We must swap recipes.
For a truly gourmet treat, try grilling with brie or camembert. (Or an even stinkier cousin in the surface-ripened family, if you have the balls.) Just be careful not to let it liquefy, as these cheeses have a low melting point.
Here's a favourite I first had in Italy:
Smoked ham, sliced thin
Marinated artichoke hearts, sliced thick
Camembert cheese, sliced thick (chill it first for easier handling)
Grainy mustard and mayo
Any mild-tasting bread or bun
Pure heaven.
In fact, some would say it tastes like sex. But I think that's just being provocative.
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