Recipe created & provided by Chef Crusco Catering in Austin, Texas
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow Onions – peeled and cut into thick wedges (keep stem in tact)
- 4 tbsps. EVOO
- 4 tbsps. Unsalted Butter
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps. Ketchup
- 1/2 lemon – juice only
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp. Sweet Relish (or just chop up gherkins and/or pickles)
- 1 tsp. Dijon Mustard
- Kosher Salt & Fresh cracked Pepper -to taste
- 2 lbs. ground Beef – best if 80/20 (beef/fat ratio)
- 8-12 slices Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese
- 1 loaf Bread (Wheat, White, Rye or Sourdough bread) – cut into thick 3/4-1 inch slices
- 1 cup Arugula
Directions
- Preheat your grill to med-high. Prepare the onions and place into a bowl. Toss them with 2 tbsps. EVOO, salt/pepper. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat too.
- To make the sauce, combine and mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, worcestershire, relish, dijon and a pinch of salt and pepper. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed. Set aside.
- Grill the onions for 6-7 minutes per side or until char marks form and the onions are tender. Transfer them to a bowl and set aside. Increase the grill to high and place a cast iron skillet on top of the grill.
- While the onions are cooking, prepare the 1/4 pound burger patties. Mix with hands gently a few times and form into an oval patty about 1/4″ thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
- When the patties are all ready and the pan is smoking hot, place 1 tbsp. each of EVOO and butter until melting (2-3 seconds). Immediatley add patties and sear 2-3 minutes.
- Flip over & sear for another 2-3 minutes. Repeat with all patties (using another tbsp. of EVOO & butter as needed). Set all patties aside until needed. Drain oil & wipe pan, but do not rinse or clean.
- Spread each slice of bread with some butter on ONE side only (which will be the frying side).
- Flip the bread slices over and begin to build the patty melt. Start with a slice or two of cheese, then some arugula and then the burger topped with onions.
- Spread the sauce on the second slice of bread and top off the sandwich making sure both the outer slices of bread are the ones covered with butter. Reduce the grill heat to medium.
- In the same pan as above, fry the sandwiches for 3-4 minutes on each side. The bread should be crispier, golden in color and the cheese should be melting. Serve immediately with french fries and a cold beer. Enjoy!
