Make Your Own Paninis

Make Your Own Paninis

a. Finger Foods, D. - Main Dishes -

Panini My Aunt Martha Harpole sent me this simple, delicious recipe idea that is sure to be a hit with your family. You can buy Paninis at many sandwich-style restaurants, but you are sure to save money by making yours at home. The “recipe” is very simple and can be modified to fit what you like on your panini.

The Basics…
– A Panini is basically a sandwich that is heated while being pressed on both sides. This allows the filling to really melt through the sandwich and makes the bread crispy on both sides.

– To make: Fill bread with spread and toppings of choice (be creative!). Cook in Panini Maker or as described in next step.

– You do not have to have a Panini Maker to make Paninis – Just use 2 skillets to sandwich your Panini so that it will cook on both sides. Or, another idea I saw used a brick wrapped in aluminum foil to press down on your sandwich while it is cooking.

Recipes…
– Breads: French Bread, Foccassia Bread, Rolls, Baguettes, Sourdough, Tuscan, Sandwich Bread, etc

– Spread: Mayonaise, Mustard, Honey Mustard, Tomato Sauce, Favorite Salad Dressing, etc

– Toppings: Veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions), Fruits (pineapple, works great with chicken!), Meats (chicken, turkey, ham, roast beef), Cheese (mozzarella, feta, cheddar, etc),

Ideas…
– Pineapple Chicken Panini: Fill bread of choice with grilled chicken, pineapples, and mozarella cheese.

– Pizza Panini: Fill Italian bread slices with favorite pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings.
– Turkey Club Sandwich Panini: Sliced turkey, swiss cheese, bacon slices (pre-cooked), tomato slices, and mayo, grilled on bread of choice.
– Shaved Smoked Ham, Cheddar Cheese, and Tomato Panini: Pile above and add mayonnaise and/or mustard into sourdough bread and grill.
– Ham or Turkey and Pepperjack Cheese Panini: Pile above into English muffin or sourdough bread and grill.
– Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Panini: Layer thinly sliced ingredients inside bread of choice (ciabatta is a good choice). Add favorite spreads or drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and a sprinkle of garlic, if desired, before grilling.
– Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Havarti Cheese Panini: Add mayonnaise if desired or drizzle with Italian dressing. Grill on Italian bread and serve with a variety of olives.
– Grilled Veggie Panini: Lightly grill veggies of choice (onions, mushrooms and thinly-sliced zucchini for instance) and fill bread of choice with the veggies and cheese or tofu.
– Good Ol’ Grilled Cheese Panini: Just like it sounds. Experiment with favorite varieties of cheeses. Crispy and delicious.

Info/Ideas from:
– My own experience
– This Week for Dinner
– Suite 101