Cheesy Pork Sausage Patty Melt

FOR THE APPLE ONION RELISH

Step 1

Fill a bowl with cold water (enough o cover the shredded apples) and add the lemon juice.

Step 2

Grate the apples on the large holes of a box grater. Place the apples in the lemon water to prevent them from browning.

Step 3

Grate the onion. (Don't add the onion to the water). Set aside.

Step 4

In a cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté the onions for 10 to 15 minutes, until slightly caramelized.

Step 5

Deglaze the onions with apple cider vinegar.

Step 6

Drain the apples and add them to the skillet with the sugar, the ginger and a pinch of kosher salt. Continue to sauté until the apples have softened, 5 minutes.

Step 7

Turn off the heat, and stir in the reserved lemon zest.

Step 8

Let completely cool before transferring to an airtight container for up to 3 days.

FOR THE SANDWICHES

Step 9

Mix the ground pork and sausage meat, black pepper, garlic, thyme, sage, maple syrup, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt.

Step 10

Form the pork into four equal oblong patties that are about the size and shape of your bread slices.

Step 11

Make a little indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb (this helps prevent it from not balling up).

Step 12

Preferably in a cast iron skillet (the same one that you cooked the relish, to save in washing dishes), fry the pork patties on medium heat for 3 minutes on each side, until they reach an internal temperature of 160ºF. Remove the patties to a plate covered with a paper towel to drain any fat.

Step 13

In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Place a slice of bread in the skillet and stack a pork patty, approximately 2 tablespoons of apple onion relish (more or less to taste), two slices of cheese, and another slice of bread on top.

Step 14

Grill in the skillet in butter for 3 to 4 minutes to brown the bread. Carefully lift the sandwich with a spatula. Melt another tablespoon of butter before flipping the melt to the un-grilled side.

Step 15

Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bread has browned.

Step 16

Repeat with the other sandwiches. Serve warm.

Note: You may also add a fried egg over the cheese, if you want to make it a hardy breakfast patty melt.