Beef Patties Baked With Mozzarella
From Marcela Hazan
Serves 6
White Bread, ½ a large slice, trimmed of its crust
Milk, 3tbsp
Minced Beef, 675g
Egg, 1
White Breadcrumbs
Plum Tomatoes, 6 whole tinned ones
Oregano, ½ bunch chopped
400g Buffalo Mozzarella, in 6mm slices
12 Anchovy Fillets
Put the bread and milk in a saucepan and heat until the bread has soaked up the milk. Mash it with a fork and cool completely. In a large bowl add the bread mixture to the mince together with the egg and some salt. Gently knead the mixture with your hands and shape it into 6 patties about 4cm high. Dredge the patties in breadcrumbs.
In a large frying pan heat enough vegetable oil to come 6mm up the sides. When the oil is hot, slip in the patties. Brown on both sides, cooking them for about 2 minutes on one side, and 1 minute on the other. When they are ready transfer them to an oven proof dish.
Preheat the oven to 200C/ 400F/ Gas 6. Split the tomatoes lengthways and scoop out the seeds. Cover each patty with both halves of a tomato, sprinkle with salt and oregano, top with a slice of mozzarella and, over the mozzarella place 2 anchovy filets crossing each other.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes then serve with a green salad and good quality crusty bread.