Moussaka Patty Melts (2024)

Patty melts inspired by the flavours of moussaka with spiced meat patties, grilled eggplant and a tasty tomato sauce.

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

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 4

Patty melts inspired by the flavours of moussaka with spiced meat patties, grilled eggplant and a tasty tomato sauce.

ingredients

For the tomato sauce:

• 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

For the patties:

• 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

For the patty melts:

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 small eggplant, sliced
• 8 slices bread
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups graviera or gruyere or mozzarella, grated

directions

For the tomato sauce:

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
3. Add the pureed tomato, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, salt and pepper and simmer until it thickens, about 5 minutes.

For the patties:

4. 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.

For the patty melts:

5. Brush the eggplant with oil and grill or pan-fry over medium-high heat (or broil) until tender, about 5 minutes.
6. 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.
7. Grill over medium heat until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Option: Top with additional tomato sauce and bechamel cheese sauce (see below)

Greek Style Bechamel Cheese Sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 1cup

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

1. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat and cook until it turns a light golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the flour and simmer until it turns a light golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the milk and simmer until it thickens, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the cheese and let it melt.
5. Season with nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper to taste.