42 posts tagged “sandwiches”

Meat & Potatoes Burger
Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray
Yields 4 servings

2 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup of heavy cream or half and half
Salt and pepper
2 pounds lean ground sirloin
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
1/2 small onion, grated
4 poppy seed Kaiser rolls
A couple of tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 bunches watercress, cleaned and trimmed of thick stems

Place the potatoes in a sauce pot and cover by one inch with water. Place it over high heat and bring up to a bubble. Add some salt and boil the potatoes until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot and let them sit for a minute to dry out. Add the butter and the cream and a little more salt and some pepper. Using a fork or potato masher, mash them until desired consistency.

Once you have to potatoes going, put the burgers together: In a bowl, combine the sirloin, Worcestershire, parsley, grated onion, salt and pepper, and mix to combine. Score an X with the side of your hand to form 4 equal portions. Make the patties about one-inch thick and press a light indentation in the center of each one to prevent the burgers from bulging and promote more even cooking. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of olive oil, about 2 tablespoons. Once you see the oil ripple, add the patties and cook on each side for 5-6 minutes, until they reach desired doneness. While the burgers are working, split the buns and toast them until golden in the toaster or under the broiler.

To build your burger, slather the buns with Dijon mustard and top the bottom buns with some watercress. On top of the greens, stack a burger patty then some of the mashed potatoes and the bun top.

Provencal Tuna Melt
Yields 4 servings

4 cans of tuna in water, drained and flaked
5 to 6 sprigs tarragon, stripped from the stem and chopped
1/2 cup basil leaves, finely chopped
1/4 cup parsley leaves, finely chopped
12 black or green pitted olives, about a handful, finely chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons capers, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 French baguette, cut into 4 sections and split on top
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 ounces Gruyere or Swiss cheese, thinly sliced

Preheat the broiler. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the tuna, tarragon, basil, parsley, olives, shallots and capers. Squeeze the lemon over the bowl, being careful not to get any of the seeds in. Drizzle in the olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine. Reserve in the fridge until ready to serve.

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. While the skillet is heating, brush the baguettes with the melted butter. Toast in the skillet until golden brown. Fill the baguettes with the tuna salad. Top with gruyere cheese and pop under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with carrot and celery sticks, and healthy potato chips alongside.

Mini Meatball Sammies
Yield 8 servings

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 onion
1 small carrot
1 stalk celery
3 pinches fresh thyme
1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/3 pound ground sirloin
1/3 pound ground pork
1/3 pound ground veal
1 large egg
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup chicken stock to thin sauce
4 hot dog buns
4 slices mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a medium-size sauce pot over medium-high heat, add EVOO. Add the onion, carrot and celery, and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add the thyme and cook for another minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, turn heat down to low and cook for 10-15 minutes.

In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine meats with egg, garlic, bread crumbs, milk, grated cheese, parsley, red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Form into mini meatballs. Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Thin the sauce with chicken stock as the sauce thickens, or as needed.

Cut about 1/4 inch off of each end of the bun and then cut in half so you 2 mini buns. Place a couple strips of cheese on each mini bun and then place a couple meatballs on that. Top with a little sauce and enjoy!

Grilled Cheese with Pulled Short Ribs
Serves 8

2 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon grapeseed or canola oil
2 pounds boneless beef short ribs
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 carrot, chopped
1/2 rib of celery, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
6 medium cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
Sachet (recipe follows)
3 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium canned beef broth
One 2-pound loaf sourdough bread, cut into 16 slices
12 ounces fontina or Bel Paese cheese, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Pickled Red Onions (recipe follows)
4 teaspoons unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large ovenproof saucepan with a lid over medium-high heat. Season short ribs with salt and pepper and add to pan. Sear ribs on both sides until caramelized, about 5 minutes. Remove ribs from pan; set aside. Add carrot and celery to pan and cook 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until caramelized, about 5 minutes more. Return short ribs to the pan and add wine and sachet.

Cook until the wine is almost evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes. Add the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and transfer saucepan to oven; cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours. Uncover and continue cooking the short ribs for 1 hour, basting ribs every 15 minutes with the cooking liquid. Cook 1 hour more, for a total of 4 hours cooking time. Remove short ribs from oven and let cool in their liquid, 30 minutes. Transfer ribs to a plate, and with two forks, slightly shred following the natural grain of the meat; set aside.

Raise oven temperature to 350 degrees. Top 8 slices of bread with about 1 1/2 ounces of cheese each. Add 1 teaspoon of pickled onion. Top with 1/4 cup pulled short ribs and a second layer of cheese. Top with remaining slices of bread to form 8 sandwiches. Brush both sides of each sandwich with 1/2 teaspoon butter.
 
In a cast-iron skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add sandwiches to skillet, and immediately turn so that all the oil is absorbed. Weight down sandwiches with a small ovenproof skillet; cook for 1 minute. Turn sandwiches, return weight, and transfer to oven. Cook 2 minutes, remove weight, turn sandwich, and continue cooking 1 minute. Remove from oven, and slice sandwich on the diagonal. Repeat process with remaining sandwiches.

Sachet
Makes 1

4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 fresh bay leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
One 5-inch piece dark green leek top, washed

Wrap all ingredients in a small piece of cheesecloth. Tie to enclose with kitchen twine.

Pickled Red Onions
Makes 5 cups

2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
3 medium red onions, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
1/8 cup sugar
3 fresh bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Toast the coriander seeds in a small, dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add mustard seeds, and toast 1 minute more; set aside. Soak onions in a large bowl of ice water, about 10 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and transfer to a medium heatproof bowl.

Place vinegars, sugar, bay leaves, and thyme in a small saucepan and slowly bring to a boil over medium heat; add reserved coriander and mustard seeds. If mixture seems too acidic, add a little water. Pour mixture over onions and let stand 5 minutes. Drain, discarding liquid, and season onions with salt and pepper. Toss onions with olive oil and store, refrigerated, in an airtight container until ready to use, 2 to 3 weeks.

Crisp Tofu Sandwich with Peanut-Ginger Sauce
Makes 2 Servings

1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 red bell pepper, cut into 4 long panels
2 teaspoons olive oil
6 ounces Thai-flavored baked tofu, cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 tablespoons natural unsweetened peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
3/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 (4 ounces) 8-inch whole-wheat baguette, or wholegrain baguette , halved horizontally
Radish sprouts for garnish (optional)

Heat broiler with rack 4 inches from heat source. Place onion slices and pepper, skin side up, on a broiler pan. Broil, turning onion over halfway through cooking time, until peppers are blistered and onion is lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel skin off pepper. Cut pepper into thick strips.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté tofu until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes on each side. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil, and ginger. Toss reserved vegetables with remaining 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil. Spread peanut-butter mixture on bottom side of bread. Top with tofu and vegetables. Place other piece of bread on top. Cut in half to make two sandwiches. Wrap tightly in foil and refrigerate for up to two days. Serve with radish sprouts on the side, if desired.

Peppered Steak Sandwiches
Serves 4

2 boneless strip steaks, (about 3/4 pound each)
Cracked black pepper
1 baguette
Olive oil
1 clove garlic
Salt
1/4 pound Roquefort cheese
Caramelized Onions (recipe follows)
1 sprig fresh rosemary

Trim excess fat from steaks. Dry them well, coat all sides with cracked pepper, and refrigerate until needed. Split baguette in half lengthwise. Toast in the oven until golden brown. Drizzle with olive oil, and rub lightly with garlic clove. Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat, and sear the steaks on both sides. Turn heat down to medium, and cook to desired doneness, about 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Sprinkle with salt, and let steaks sit for 5 minutes. Cut toasted baguette into four equal pieces. Make four sandwiches, placing thinly sliced steak atop slices of Roquefort, then sprinkling with caramelized onions and rosemary. Serve immediately.

Caramelized Onions
Makes about 1 cup

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium onions, (about 1 1/2 pounds), sliced into 1/8-inch rounds
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)

Heat butter and oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions, and cook until they begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add sugar, salt, and pepper; raise heat slightly, and cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir in thyme, if using, and serve warm.

Pan Bagna
Serves 6 to 8

1 loaf Italian or country bread with crust that is not too heavy
1 large clove garlic, halved
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 small red onion, very thinly sliced
1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced
8 anchovy fillets, drained
1 small roasted red bell pepper, cut into strips
Oil Poached Tuna (recipe follows)
12 basil leaves
12 oil-cured black olives, pitted and minced

Halve bread horizontally. Pull out the soft interior, to within 1-inch of the crust; discard interior or reserve for another use. Rub the inside of bread all over with garlic, then drizzle with oil and vinegar. Cover the bottom half of the bread with onion and tomato slices. Top with anchovies and pepper strips. Evenly distribute tuna and basil.

Spread the top half of bread with minced olives, and place it olive-side down over filled bottom half. Wrap in plastic wrap. Place on a large plate, and top with a second plate. Weight with several heavy cans. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Just before serving, cut into 6 to 8 wedges or slices.

Oil Poached Tuna
Makes 1 1/2 pounds

1 1/2 pounds fresh tuna
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
4 large garlic, smashed
3/4 to 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 lemon thyme, (or plain thyme plus 1 teaspoon lemon zest)
2 bay leaves

Season tuna with salt and pepper. Place in a saucepan with garlic and enough oil to just cover. Bring to a gentle simmer, and cook over low heat until the fish is opaque, about 10 minutes. Do not let it boil. Remove from heat, and add lemon thyme and bay leaves. Let stand until room temperature. Use immediately, or transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour before using.

Hero Sandwich
Yields 8 servings

1 large round loaf bread
6 large portobello mushrooms, stems trimmed to 1/2 inch
Olive oil, for brushing
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
7 medium tomatoes, cored and sliced
1 small red onion, (4 ounces), peeled, thinly sliced, and rings separated
2 large yellow peppers, roasted, peeled, and cut lengthwise into thick slices
6 cups fresh basil leaves, washed
Creamy Tomato Dressing (recipe follows)

Cut bread in half horizontally. Using a short serrated knife, carve out insides of bread, in whole pieces if possible. Using a long serrated knife, thinly slice inside pieces. Cover; set aside. Pull out any remaining bread from crusts, leaving 1/4-inch bread border. Cover crusts; set aside.

Thinly slice mushrooms. Heat a grill to medium hot, or place a grill pan over high heat. Brush mushrooms with olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Brush fennel with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until tender, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Arrange filling in bottom of bread: First, cover with half the tomatoes, then half the onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; drizzle with 3 tablespoons dressing. Cover with 1 cup basil, and top with a layer of sliced bread. The second layer is made up of half the mushrooms, then salt and pepper, dressing, basil, and bread. The third layer is peppers, salt and pepper, dressing, basil, and bread. The fourth layer is the remaining mushrooms, salt and pepper, dressing, basil, and bread. The fifth layer is fennel, salt and pepper, dressing, basil, and bread. The last layer is the remaining tomatoes, onions, salt and pepper, dressing, and basil. Place top of bread on bottom half, enclosing vegetables. Wrap with plastic; weight with heavy books. Let stand 45 minutes. Unwrap sandwich. Using a large serrated knife, cut into eight wedges.

Creamy Tomato Dressing
Makes about 1 cup

3 ripe tomatoes, (12 ounces), cored
1/4 cup low-fat (1 percent) cottage cheese
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cut tomatoes into quarters; puree in a food processor. Pass through a strainer into a bowl; discard seeds and skin. Using a rubber spatula, press cottage cheese through a strainer into tomatoes. Add remaining ingredients; whisk to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Makes two 9-inch loaves

3 1/2 cups warm water
3 tablespoons honey
2 active dry yeast, (1/4 ounce each)
1 1/2 pounds (about 4 1/2 cups) bread flour, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 pounds (about 4 1/2 cups) whole-wheat flour
5 ounces (about 1 cup) wheat germ
2 tablespoons coarse salt
Vegetable oil, for bowl, pans, and plastic wrap
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream

Combine warm water, honey, and yeast in a large liquid measuring cup; stir until yeast dissolves. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk 1 pound 5 ounces (about 4 cups) bread flour with whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, and salt. Make a well in the center. Pour in yeast mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon, gradually drawing in dry ingredients until combined.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead in remaining 3 ounces (about 1/2 cup) bread flour a little at a time until dough is smooth and elastic, 10 to 15 minutes. Place in a lightly oiled bowl; cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees; with rack in center. Brush two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with oil. Punch down dough with your fist then turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough in half. Flatten one half into an oval approximately the length of the pan, and roll up lengthwise, gently pressing as you go to form a tight log. Place the log, seam side down, into a prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover loaf pans with oiled plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 30 to 45 minutes.

Using a lame or a razor blade, slash loaves down the center in one quick, even motion. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk with the heavy cream; brush over the tops of the loaves. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until bread is deep golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes. (If tops are browning too quickly during the last 30 minutes of baking, tent with aluminum foil.) Transfer pans to a wire rack, and let cool 5 minutes. Turn out the loaves onto the rack to cool completely before serving.

Focaccia
Makes one 9-by-12-inch

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for baking sheet
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
2 teaspoons coarse salt
Malden sea salt, for sprinkling

Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine 6 tablespoons warm water (105 degrees; to 115 degrees;), the sugar, and yeast. Stir to dissolve. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add oil, 1 cup warm water (105 degrees; to 115 degrees;), thyme, and 2 teaspoons rosemary; stir to combine.

Add flour and salt, and mix on low speed until all the flour is incorporated into dough, about 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium and continue mixing until a very sticky dough forms, cleaning the dough hook 2 or 3 times, (it will not completely come up from the bottom of the bowl), about 3 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead dough with lightly floured hands until smooth and elastic, about 2 minutes. Place dough on prepared baking sheet, turning to coat with oil. Cover lightly with plastic wrap; transfer to a warm place, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees; with rack in the center of the oven. When dough has doubled in size, press out to fill pan. Let dough rest, covered with plastic wrap, for 10 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons chopped rosemary and sea salt. Bake until top is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, about 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.