PROTEIN-PACKED PATTY MELT

Power up with this diner classic.

Ingredients

6 oz. extra-lean ground beef
Salt and pepper, to taste
Nonstick cooking spray
1⁄2 small onion, sliced thin
2 slices sourdough or rye bread
2 slices reduced-fat Swiss cheese (approximately 1 oz.)
1-2 tsp. Low fat  spreadable garlic, optional (My favorite is Gourmet Garden Garlic Blend, found in a tube in the produce section of major grocery stores.)

Directions

Preheat a grill on high. Shape beef into an oval patty about the size of the bread. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the beef approximately 2-3 minutes per side until it reaches desired doneness. Meanwhile, in a small nonstick pan coated with cooking spray, cook the onions over medium-high heat until they are tender and just starting to brown. When the burger and onions are almost done, toast the bread on the grill or in a toaster. Add the cheese to one slice of the hot bread and spread the garlic on the other. Place the burger and then the onions on top of the garlic spread. Immediately top it with the other slice of bread. Serve hot.

Makes one serving.

Doctor's Orders: Season the meat and make sure the grill is hot before placing the patty on the grill. Chef Devin Alexander

(Traditional patty melt has: 1,037 calories, 44 g protein, 34 g carbohydrates, 80 g of fat, 2 g fiber. )