Maria NasirJaffles are the ultimate fast food for me ! These are sandwiches toasted in an electric sandwich maker or more traditionally in a device known as a pie iron, pudgy pie iron or jaffle iron. It consists of two hinged concave, round or square metal, plates on long handles. The plates clamp together to form an enclosed compartment meant for cooking stuffed sandwiches. The plates seal the outside edges of the bread together, to completely enclose the filling.
Jaffles are basically Australian and South African versions of grilled sandwiches.
Most popular jaffles are a grilled cheese sandwich, tuna melt or patty melt. But actually when it comes to the filling it’s a great way to use up leftover foods and be creative.
My parents used to make jaffles in the old fashioned outdoor jaffle iron with boiled eggs and mashed potatoes filling which to this day is one of my most favourite childhood memories.
You can substitute the beef in the recipe with cooked, leftover chicken, canned tuna, mushrooms and sauces of your choice. One of my kids favourite is the pizza jaffles with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese filling.
Even for the sweet variety you can use chopped dates and figs, honey, maple syrup, apple sauce a d jams of your choice…literally, sky is the limit !
Wonderfully easy and quick complete meal for school and office lunch boxes, tea snacks and outdoor parties. Enjoy !
For Jaffles/Toasties Two ways
For Savoury Jaffles :
4 bread slices, I used multigrain
2 teaspoon butter or olive oil
1 cup slow cooked beef, shredded
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup caramelised onions
1 green chilli pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon green tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
This Is What You Do :
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a frying pan, heat on medium heat. Add shredded beef, green chilli peppers, BBQ sauce, Tabasco sauce. Stir fry for 2 minutes. Spread butter/olive oil on 4 slices, layer beef, cheese and caramelised onions. Close the sandwiches with buttered sides outside . Put them in electric sandwich maker for 3 minutes or toast on open fire or stove top in a jaffle iron for 5 minutes or till the they are golden and crispy on the outside.
Makes 4 triangles
For Sweet Jaffles :
1 banana
4 tablespoons chocolate of your choice, broken into small pieces or melted
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
This Is What You Do :
Cut banana into thin slices. Brush the outsides of the slices with butter or olive oil. Layer all the ingredients on slice, cover with other slice.
Cook as directed for the savoury filling jaffle.
Makes 2 triangles