subject: Be A Hero In Minutes With "melted" Sandwiches For Lunch [print this page] Even if you're in a hurry, you have time to make melted sandwiches. They're quick and so good. And there are all kinds that you can make. We'll start you off with six simple recipes. Each is made with toasted English muffins, spread with a filling, and topped with cheese. The sandwiches are cooked for about five minutes under the broiler element, the top element in your oven, until the cheese melts. With most, you can have a plate of these ready in minutes. If you have company coming, make several kinds for a mixed platter of sandwiches.
Melted Sandwich #1. Crispy Crab Sandwich
Crab and cheddar sandwiches are always popular but you can make them really quickly and easily with your favorite crab salad from the deli. You'll need some English muffins and sliced deli cheese. You'll have great melted sandwiches ready go in ten minutes or less. Here's how:
1. Toast the English muffins.
2. Load each with the crab salad. Top each with a slice of cheddar cheese.
3. Put your sandwiches on a baking sheet and slide it under the broiler element in your oven. Cook them for about five minutes or until the cheese melts. Serve them hot.
Melted Sandwich #2. Pulled Chicken and Cheese
You know pulled pork. This is an easy version made with chicken. It's only made with three ingredients. (This takes a little more time than the others but it is still quick and easy.) This recipe will make four English muffin sandwiches.
1 chicken breast
1/2 large sweet onion, sliced
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
Saut the chicken breast in a skillet. Let the chicken cool. While it is cooling, saut the onion in the same pan.
Using your fingers and a fork, pull the chicken breast part into strands. Return the chicken to the pan with the onions. Add the barbecue sauce and stir.
Now that the filling is complete, you can assemble and cook the sandwiches as before. We topped the chicken filling with provolone cheese.
Melted Sandwich #3. Chicken Salad and Cheddar
These are very good and very quick sandwiches. Either make your favorite chicken salad for sandwiches or stop by the deli for some. Toast the muffins and load them with the chicken salad. Top them with deli slices of cheddar or other cheese and broil them until the cheese is bubbly.
Of course you can make exactly the same sandwiches with tuna salad or a canned salmon salad.
Melted Sandwich #4. California Turkey, Bacon, and Avocado
Instead of creating a spreadable filling, you can top your sandwiches with meat, vegetables, and condiments. The following is a very good sandwich.
Spread your English muffins with a little mayonnaise or butter and then layer the sandwiches with turkey slices. Top the turkey with crisp bacon, sliced avocados, and then tomato slices. Add a slice or two of cheese and broil until the cheese is bubbly.
Melted Sandwich #5. Rueben's Melt
If you like Rueben sandwiches, you will like this version. Toast your muffins and add a little thousand island dressing topped with deli corn beef. Add a thin layer of sauerkraut and top it with Swiss cheese. Broil your sandwiches until the cheese is melted.
We found this sandwich a little overwhelming if we didn't keep the toppings sparse. It was very good with a just a couple layers of roast beef and single spoon of sauerkraut spread evenly over the meat.
Melted Sandwich #6. Summer Tomato, Fresh Basil, and Mozzarella
This a classic summer combination when the tomatoes are ripe and fresh basil is available. Since this is a meatless sandwich, you'll probably want extra cheese.
Put a little butter or mayonnaise on your toasted English muffins so that the juice from the tomatoes does not soak as readily into the bread. Layer tomato, then fresh basil, then cheese onto the muffin. Broil until bubbly.
To Make or to Buy
You'll make great sandwiches with store-bought muffins but homemade always seems a little better . . . and satisfying. English muffins may be the easiest yeast bread to make, not much more trouble than pancakes. You do have to wait 40 minutes for the yeast to work and you do have to use English muffin rings to contain the batter. Other than that, it's pretty much like cooking pancakes. Because they are thicker, they take a little longer on the grill.
