Portuguese Patty Melts

This is a simple burger with a Portuguese flair--our take on a traditional patty melt. My husband is Portuguese and almost everything we cook has some form of garlic, onion, and olive oil. The linguica really puts this over the top!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 1002 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon water
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 4 slices American cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, or more to taste, minced
• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
• 1 (4 ounce) link linguica sausage
• 8 slices deli rye bread
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened, or to taste
• 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix ground beef, garlic, water, and pepper in a bowl. Form into 4 large patties and place in the refrigerator to chill while onions cook.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; stir in onion and sprinkle cumin over top. Saute until onions are light brown and limp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove onions to a bowl.

Step 3

Slice sausage lengthwise into 4 pieces. Place in the hot skillet and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.

Step 4

Take patties out of the refrigerator and place in the skillet. Cook until no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Top each patty with a slice of American cheese; cook until cheese begins to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Add a sausage slice to each patty. Remove patties to a plate.

Step 5

Butter all bread slices on one side. Place 4 pieces bread, buttered-sides down, in the skillet. Place patties on top, add mustard to taste, top with sauteed onions, and place the remaining bread, buttered-sides up, on top. Cook until light brown and toasted, about 2 minutes per side.