This recipe is an adaptation of a legendary New York bodega sandwich. The chopped cheese is said to have been created at Harlem’s Blue Sky Deli (locally known as Hajii’s). One theory of its origin says that it’s based off of an Arabic sandwich, “dagha yamneeya,” essentially cooked chopped meat and vegetables served with Yemeni bread. You can change up the toppings by adding bell peppers, pepperoncini, or other veggies, or even change the meat to ground turkey or ground chicken.
The trick is to chop up the meat and let the cheese melt a little bit before serving – remember, it’s not a burger, and it’s not a cheesesteak, it’s a chopped cheese!
