Gruyère with Caramelized Onions Panini

The combination of sweet yellow onions caramelized really slowly with fresh oregano and grilled with nutty Gruyère cheese on rye bread is very simple and insanely delicious. Just like in the soup it was inspired by, the Gruyère stretches between your mouth and sandwich with each bite. And those onions! To say they’re like candy might be overstating things, but not by much.

Yield:

Serves 4

Ingredients

1. 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2. 4 medium yellow onions, halved and cut lengthwise into 1/8″ slices
3. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano (1 tablespoon dried Sicilian oregano)
4. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
5. 8 oz. Gruyere cheese, grated
6. 8 slices rye bread

Directions

1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions and stir vigorously to avoid scorching. Add the oregano and season with salt and pepper. Continue stirring until the onions have a deep brown color. Reduce the heat and continue to cook until the onions are soft, 30 to 45 minutes. Set aside.
2. Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat (375°F).
3. For each sandwich: Place 1/4 of the cheese on a slice of bread. Follow with a generous amount of onions. Close the sandwich and place on the panini grill. Grill for 4-5 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and the bread is toasted with golden grill marks. Serve immediately.

Notes