Ground Elk Chopped Cheese
This New York Bodega special is sure to be the star of the show at your next family gathering.
Servings: 4 subs
Equipment
- bacon press not necessary but helps get your bread toasty
- metal bench scraper again not necessary but makes chopping and mixing easier
- parchment paper and foil not necessary, but helps sub keep its shape
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground elk or venison/big game meat
- 2 T bacon fat or butter for cooking meat
- 4 hoagie buns or 1 loaf of po'boy bread
- 10 slices American cheese I like Sargento
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- seasoning of choice I did salt, pepper, onion powder, sazon, and tumeric.. Can also do adobo
- 4 T butter for toasting bread
- 1-2 tsp minced garlic for toasting bread
Toppings
- shredded lettuce
- tomatoes sliced, seasoned with salt and pepper
- mayo
- ketchup
Instructions
- Start by toasting the bread. Do this by heating a skillet or large enough pan over medium heat. Once hot, add butter and some minced garlic. I did ~1T butter and 1/2 tsp garlic per hoagie. Once the butter is melted, place the inside of the bread face down. I slid the bread around the pan to make sure all the butter was soaked up and then I placed a bacon press on top to flatten the bread some and get a good even browning (~1-2min). Once bread is toasted, set aside.
- In a bowl combine your meat with your seasoning. I used salt, pepper, onion, powder, sazon, and tumeric, but however you like to season your burger meat will work. I have learned that my meat is seasoned enough when it is combined and I can smell seasoning. Game meat does not have a lot of fat, so it takes a bit more seasoning than you think.
- Once combined, form 4 patties. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat your bacon fat or butter. Once hot, place your patties in and toss in your onions.
- Cook patties for ~3 minutes or until browned and flip and cook for another 3 min.
- Once browned, begin to chop up the meat with your metal bench scraper or spatula.
- Continue to chop and mix until all of your meat is cooked.
- Once cooked, top with the American cheese slices. Let the slices melt a bit.
- Once a bit melted, start chopping and mixing all of the meat and cheese together.
- Assemble your chopped cheese. I like to use tomato, lettuce, mayo, and ketchup and then wrap it in parchment paper and foil. ENJOY!