Cheese-Stuffed Meat Patties

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make cheese-stuffed meat patties? Gather your ingredients. My ground meat is a homemade pork-and-turkey blend with onion and garlic already mixed in; if yours is plain, add a grated onion and a minced garlic clove. I use soft mozzarella for the cheese, though some people use processed cheese. As for the oats mixed into the meat, you can use white bread soaked in milk or cream instead.

2. Step 2:

   

   Put the ground meat in a deep bowl and add the (quick-cooking) rolled oats or the soaked white bread. This keeps the patties juicy and soft. Then crack in the egg and add salt and pepper to taste, plus any favorite spices.

3. Step 3:

   

   Mix the egg thoroughly into the meat so everything is evenly combined with no lumps. If you have time, chill the mixture in the fridge for a few minutes — cold meat is easier to shape into patties.

4. Step 4:

   

   Cut the cheese into rectangular slabs. I always use mozzarella for these patties — it melts inside as they fry and stretches so appetizingly afterward. Just remember that cheese-stuffed patties are best served hot; as they cool, the cheese firms up again.

5. Step 5:

   

   To shape the patties, wet your hands with cold water, pinch off some meat, and flatten it into a round. Place a piece of cheese in the center and wrap the meat around it on all sides, then form it into an oval (like a small pie). Repeat with the rest of the meat and cheese. Try to seal the cheese completely inside so it doesn't peek out anywhere — otherwise it can leak into the pan and spoil the look of the patties.

6. Step 6:

   

   Then roll each patty in breadcrumbs — a shallow bowl makes this easy. If you don't have breadcrumbs on hand, use any flour, semolina, or ground-up oats, or skip the coating altogether.

7. Step 7:

   

   Heat a skillet and add the vegetable oil, spreading it evenly across the surface. Lay the patties in the pan and fry over medium heat on each side until golden brown.

8. Step 8:

   

   Serve the cheese-stuffed patties hot. Pasta, rice, or potatoes make great sides. If the patties have cooled, be sure to reheat them before serving.