These meat and cheese sandwiches (also known as Princess sandwiches), are so easy to make and a nice alternative to add to the traditional sandwiches you are probably used to making already.
Princess Sandwiches (Princeska) are one of the most popular and traditional street food in Bulgaria. Almost every single kid in Bulgaria grew up eating these homemade tasty sandwiches made of minced meat and cheese on top of bread slices. They are so easy to make and yet full of flavor comfort food that you can prepare in minutes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And if you ever find yourself in Bulgaria, be sure to look out for these on almost every corner.
If you love cheesy meatballs or cheesy burgers, these meat and cheese open sandwiches will hit the spot as this delicious ground meat mixture gets spread onto bread and baked in the oven to perfection. These meat sandwiches are great for breakfast, lunch or perfect for those busy weeknight dinners. They only require a handful of ingredients and are ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Why you will love these meat and cheese sandwiches.
- They are the ultimate meat and cheese comfort food
- They are unique and delicious and sure to be a conversation starter at any party you host or bring these to
- Quick and easy to make, these delicious meat and cheese sandwiches require only a handful of ingredients and ready to devour in less than 30 minutes
- These ground meat and cheese sandwiches are very versatile and can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Ingredients
- Ground Pork – Traditionally these sandwiches are made with ground pork. If you prefer to use another kind of meat, any ground meat will work for this recipe. You can use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey. Or even a mixture of them.
- Cheese – I love using shredded mozzarella cheese for this recipe as it melts beautifully into the meat, but any other kind of cheese can be used here as well – cheddar, gouda, or provolone will work great as well.
- Bread – Any bread you love will work for this recipe. I prefer Italian sliced bread
- Spices – Other than salt and pepper (and cumin, if preferred), traditionally the princess sandwiches are seasoned with a Bulgarian savory spice. It can be purchased in most international food stores as well as online here.
How to make Bulgarian meat and cheese Princess sandwiches
See the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Toast one side of the bread. This will ensure the bread slices hold the meat mixture without breaking up. Mix the ground pork, shredded cheese, and spices in a large bowl. Spread the mixture evenly on the non-toasted side of the bread slices. Arrange the sandwiches in a single layer in a baking tray and bake them for 20 min. Turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sandwiches are golden brown.
Serving suggestions
These sandwiches are intended to be the main course. Here are some optional sides:
- Greek Salad
- My potato salad
- Soup
- French fries
- Onion rings
- Coleslaw
- Tzatziki
- Potato chips
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Meat and Cheese (Bulgarian Princess) Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork meat chicken, beef, or meatloaf mix
- 12 slices Italian white bread or any other bread you prefer
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese or any other cheese of your choice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried savory spice
- 1 whole egg optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F degrees
- In a large bowl, mix the ground meat, the cheese, and all the spices. I prefer to use ground pork. Naturally, it has a little bit of fat in it and makes the sandwiches nice and moist. But if pork is not your favorite, feel free to use any other ground meat. For a dryer type of meat, you can add 1 egg to the mixture.
- Mix well until a uniform mixture is formed.
- Arrange the slices of bread on a baking tray and broil or toast one side of them.
- Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture on the non-toasted side and add more savory on top, if desired.
- Bake at 400 F degrees for 20 minutes or until the meat is cooked. I like to put the top broiler on for the last 1-2 minutes until the cheese and top gets golden but keep a close eye on it if you do.
- Take them out of the oven and let them come to room temperature.
- Serve and Enjiy!
