FOOD NEWS
The Caramelized Onion Switch For Quicker Patty Melt Sandwiches
BY DILLON FERNANDO
A patty melt is a burger patty between two slices of toasted bread with melted cheese and caramelized onions. To save yourself some time, swap the onions for charred scallions.
Scallions have a smokier and less intense onion flavor than yellow onions. When you char them, they become smoky and sweet, playing a beautiful mimic for onion caramelization.
This tip comes from cookbook author Molly Stevens via Food & Wine. To make the scallions, she first tosses them whole (except the hairy root ends) in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
She then tosses the scallions in a hot skillet, moving them occasionally, until they char in some places and soften. Then, she chops them and adds them to her chipotle-mayo sauce.
Unlike caramelized onions, which can take between 15 minutes and an hour to make, charred scallions can be made in minutes and will give your patty melt a serious flavor boost.