All-Vegetable Salad Panini

 

• 1 large ciabatta roll, sliced horizontally
• ½  cup Italian dressing
• 2 cups mixed dark leafy greens, washed, drained and chopped
• Fresh basil leaves, roughly torn into small pieces
• Parmesan, Cheddar and/or Mozzarella cheese shavings
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• Olive oil

 

1.  Heat panini grill to medium heat.

2.  Lay ciabatta roll slices open and flat. Spread insides of bread with Italian dressing.

3.  In a medium-size bowl, mix greens and basil leaf pieces.

4.  Layer mixed greens and basil on bottom halves of sandwiches. Top with cheese shavings, salt and black pepper.

5.  Assemble and brush outside of sandwiches with olive oil.

6.  Grill sandwiches until ciabatta is golden-brown and cheese melts, about 3-5 minutes.

7.  Serve immediately.

French Dip Roast Beef Panini

French Dip Roast Beef Panini

 Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter

½ shallot, minced

½ tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup reduced-salt beef broth

salt and pepper to taste

¼ pound deli-style sliced roast beef

½ baguette, cut into two portions and halved horizontally

1/8 lb sliced Swiss cheese

 

Directions 

1. Preheat your panini press. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When hot, stir in the shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and translucent (this takes about 2 minutes). Stir in the cornstarch and cook for one more minute.

2. Add the beef broth to the mixture, stirring to blend well. Season with salt and pepper as necessary.

3. Add the slices of roast beef to the sauce. Cook over low heat until the slices are warmed and remove from the sauce (reserve and cover the sauce for serving).

4. Divide cheese and place equal portions on two bread slices. Top with roast beef. Cover with remaining bread slices.

5. Grill panini in hot press until cheese is melted and bread toasted and golden-brown, approximately 5 minutes. Serve immediately with warm sauce.

Panini Grill Sandwich

One new hot item that is making a lot of commotion in the kitchen is the panini grill that makes great panini grill sandwiches. The grill is similar to the ones you use to make a waffle but the panini grill creates thin-toasted sandwiches that have a distinctive crispy flavor.

Italians usually prefer their panini grill sandwich with two slices of bread, a slice of prosciutto, thin slices of mozzarella and tomato, and fresh basil leaves. Then they brush the sandwich with olive oil and put it on a hinged grill. Since the cover of the panini grill is heavy, it presses the panino while creating a crispy sandwich.

You can make your own panini sandwich with a few basic tips and ideas.

If you want a panini for a light breakfast, try using a sweet bread and add cinnamon, honey, and butter. You can also use cream cheese and strawberry jam for a great panini treat. Don’t be afraid to use chicken and eggs in your panino for extra protein and nutrients to start your day.

For those vegetarian who wants to try panini, add thin slices of mozzarella and tomatoes with basil to ciabatta bread. Spread some olive oil and vinegar over the ingrediens. You can also try lightly grilling some veggies of your preference such as red pepper, onions, and mushrooms and adding them to your panino. Spread the outside with olive oil before grilling for extra flavor and crispiness.

You can also add salt and pepper to any panino even if the recipe doesn’t call for it. With panini, there are no rules. Be creative and have fun, that’s what panini are all about. For Italians, food and family are the most important things in the world so they always combine the two. This is one of the reasons that panini have become so popular in our society. We are so busy and it’s hard to find family time and just as hard to eat healthy. Making Panini can be a family affair; everyone can create their own concoctions. The best part is that the whole family is making supper together and eating together.

Panini possibilities are endless. You can add virtually anything to any bread including meat, chicken, fish, ham, turkey, eggs, cheese, etc… Of course, adding fruits and vegetables is a great way to get your kids to start getting their fill. Panini are also a great way to eat leftovers!