Vegetarian Melt

2023 F&W Best New Chef Caroline Schiff shares a recipe inspired by one of her favorite city institutions: the diner. “The smell when you walk into a diner or coffee shop is absolutely one of the best smells in the world.”

Her offering is a classic melt sandwich, this time made with a heaping pile of greens, cooked down and mixed with mayonnaise, Dijon, and lemon juice. The result is rich and satisfying.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a melt?

  A melt sandwich is a type of open-faced hot sandwich that combines a filling and melted cheese. Melts can be cooked on the stove or griddle top, or inside an oven, to toast the bread and melt the cheese. Common fillings include tuna or a ground beef patty, as seen in a patty melt. 

• Can you make a vegetarian melt?

  The veggie melt is a proud member of the melt sandwich pantheon. Schiff’s version here features greens as the vegetables, but the same basic concept — the melt factor — remains the same.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Save yourself some chopping time and throw the broccoli and broccoli rabe in the food processor (though you may have to process in batches). Keep an eye on the cheese while your melt is under the broiler — ovens can vary greatly when it comes to broiling.

Make ahead

The greens can be made up to three days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Assemble the melt when ready to serve.