Thursday, July 10, 2014

50 Panini {Road Snack Survival Guide}

Panini are really great for a quick sammy snack. Even if you don't have a Panini Press you can make them with a stove top grill and a cast-iron pan for the press. I always have an arsenal of panini recipes to choose from to go with soups, chips and dips, salsas and gaucamoles. When Bubba and the crew get hungry they want food fast, since we can't always stop at the local Cracker Barrel or what ever a panini and some side usually does the trick.

I love the fact that I can slap pretty much anything between 2 slices of bread, squash it and grill it. With no mess, no fuss and very little clean up. Makes for a very happy me.

  1. Caprese: Brush the insides of sub rolls or sliced Italian bread with olive oil. Fill with fresh buffalo mozzarella, and tomato, and a few basil leaves; season with salt and pepper. Press and cook until golden.
  2. Smoked Caprese: Make Caprese Panini {No. 1} with smoked mozzarella.
  3. Eggplant Caprese: Make Caprese Panini {No. 1}, with smoked or fresh mozzarella; replace the tomato with grilled eggplant slices.
  4. Anchovy Caprese: Make Caprese Panini {No 1}, adding 1/2 chopped anchovy filet and a sprinkle of capers to the sandwich.
  5. Prosciutto Caprese: Make Caprese Panini {No. 1}, adding 3 thin slices prosciutto and some shaved parmesan to the sandwich.
  6. Pesto Turkey: Make Caprese Panini {No. 1}; brush the inside of the roll with pesto instead of olive oil and add 3 to 4 slices roasted turkey breast to the sandwich.
  7. Chicken Saltimbocca: Brush the inside of a split ciabatta roll with pesto. Fill with sliced grilled chicken, fontina and prosciutto, and some chopped fresh sage. Press and cook until golden.
  8. Apple-Manchego: Brush the inside of a split soft roll with olive oil and quince paste or fig jam. Fill with sliced apple and manchego cheese; season with salt and pepper. Press and cook until golden.
  9. Chorizo-Pear: Make Apple-Manchego Panini {No. 8} with sliced pear instead of apple; add sliced Spanish chorizo to the sandwich.
  10. Roast Beef-Onion: Spread dijon mustard on 2 thick slices of sourdough bread. Layer shredded gruyere, sliced roast beef, caramelized onions and more gruyere between the bread. Press and cook until golden.
  11. Three-Meat: Brush the inside of a split Italian roll with olive oil. Fill with sliced soppressata, capicola and salami, fontina and roasted red peppers. Press and cook until golden.
  12. Bacon-Date: Brush the inside of a split Italian roll with olive oil and spread with soft goat cheese. Fill with chopped dates and crisp bacon. Press and cook until golden.
  13. Grilled Veggie: Brush the inside of a split ciabatta roll with pesto. Fill with slices of grilled eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and roasted red peppers. Add 2 slices fresh buffalo mozzarella and a few basil leaves. Press and cook until golden.
  14. Serrano-Fig: Brush the inside of a split piece of baguette with olive oil and fig jam. Fill with thinly sliced serrano ham and manchego cheese. Press and cook until golden.
  15. Three-Cheese: Brush the inside of a split ciabatta roll with pesto. Fill with a few slices each mozzarella, fontina, and asiago cheeses. Add a few basil leaves. Press and cook until golden.
  16. Sun-Dried Tomato: Make Three-Cheese Panini {No. 15} with sun-dried tomato pesto. Add baby spinach instead of basil.
  17. Mortadella-Ricotta: Mix 2 tablespoons ricotta with some salt, pepper, and chopped thyme and parsley. Brush the insides of 2 slices crusty Italian bread with olive oil. Fill with th ricotta and sliced mortadella; press and cook until golden.
  18. Mortadella-Artichoke: Make Mortadella-Ricotta Panini {No. 17}, adding grilled marinated artichoke hearts.
  19. Mushroom-Taleggio: Brush the inside of a split crusty Italian roll with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Fill with sauteed mixed mushrooms and sliced onion. Add sliced taleggio cheese. Press and cook until golden.
  20. BBQ: Fill a soft sesame roll with pulled pork, shredded cheddar and charred red onion. Press and cook until golden.
  21. Sausage-Feta: Cut a pocketless pita round in half and brush both halves with olive tapenade. Sandwich with slices of cooked spicy sausage, roasted red peppers and crumbled feta. Press and cook until golden.
  22. Spicy Steak: Lightly spread mayonnaise on the inside of a split onion roll. Fill with thinly sliced cooked steak and season with salt; top with shredded pepper jack cheese. Press and cook until golden.
  23. Apple-Brie: Spread mustard on the inside of a split piece of baguette. Fill with sliced brie and thinly sliced green apple. Press and cook until golden.
  24. Reuben: Spread Thousand Island dressing on 2 slices rye bread. Layer sliced Baby Swiss cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut and more cheese between the bread. Press and cook until golden.
  25. Tofu Reuben: Thinly slice baked tofu and sear in a skillet with olive oil until golden. Make Reuben Panini {No. 24}, using tofu instead of corned beef.
  26. Italian Melt: Drizzle the inside top half of a split sub roll with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Layer sliced provolone, salami, ham, turkey, pepperoncini and more provolone on the roll. Press and cook until golden.
  27. Fajita Melt: Brush the inside of a split sub roll with olive oil. Fill with sliced grilled chicken, sauteed peppers and onions, and shredded pepper jack cheese. Press and cook until golden.
  28. Mexican Melt: Make Fajita Melt {No. 27}, with sliced roast beef instead of chicken. Press and cook until golden.
  29. Steak Gruyere: Mix equal parts mayonnaise and horseradish. Stir in some chopped parsley. Spread on the inside of a split piece of baguette. Fill with thinly sliced cooked steak and sliced gruyere. Press and cook until golden.
  30. Jerk Swordfish: Sprinkle 4 ounces swordfish with jerk seasoning; grill. Spread mango chutney and mayonnaise on the inside of a split soft egg roll. Fill with the fish, sliced jalapenos and shredded pepper jack cheese. Press and cook until golden.
  31. Lobster: Mix 1 cup chopped lobster meat, 2 tablespoons each minced shallot, and melted butter, 2 teaspoons chopped tarragon and some lemon juice and salt. Hollow out a split piece of baguette; fill with the lobster. Brush the outside with butter. Press and cook until golden.
  32. Flat Brat: Butter the inside of a split hard roll. Fill with sauerkraut, sliced cooked bratwurst and shredded Swiss cheese. Press and cook until golden.
  33. Canadian Bacon: Butter a split English muffin. Fill with 2 slices sauteed Canadian bacon and some sliced Swiss cheese. Press and cook until gloden.
  34. Caribbean: Spread the inside top half of a split soft roll with yellow mustard and drizzle with hot sauce. Fill with sliced queso blanco, deli ham, sauteed or fried plantains, charred red onion and queso blanco. Press and cook until golden.
  35. Veggie Caribbean: Make Caribbean Panini {No. 34} without ham; add avocado and tomato.
  36. German: Spread whole-grain mustard on 2 slices pumpernickel bread. Sandwich thinly sliced liverwurst and shredded muenster between the bread. Press and cook until golden.
  37. Cuban: Spread the inside of a split Cuban or other soft sub roll with yellow mustard. Fill with sliced dill pickle, deli ham, roast pork and Swiss cheese. Press and cook until golden. {This is traditionally done in a cast-iron skillet.}
  38. Turkey Cuban: Make Cuban Panini {No. 37}, with sliced turkey instead of ham and roast pork.
  39. Nacho Cuban: Make Cuban Panini {No. 37}, with chopped pickled jalapenos instead of pickle and cheddar instead of Swiss. Add salsa to the sandwich.
  40. Breakfast Burrito: Roll up scrambled eggs, shredded pepper jack cheese and salsa in a flour tortilla. Press and cook until golden.
  41. Grilled Cheese: Sandwich shredded sharp cheddar and jack cheeses between Texas Toast white bread. Cook in a skillet with butter until golden {don't press--the bread is soft and there's not a lot of filling.}
  42. BLT Grilled Cheese: Thinly slice a tomato, pat dry and season with salt. Make Grilled Cheese {No. 41}, alternating cheese, tomato, escarole and bacon. 
  43. Tuna Melt: Layer shredded cheddar, tuna salad and more shredded cheddar between 2 slices of rye bread. Cook in a skillet with butter until golden {Do Not Press}.
  44. Berry Croissant: Lightly spread the inside of a split croissant with marshmallow cream. Fill with bittersweet chocolate chunks and sliced strawberries. Press and cook until golden.
  45. Apple-Cheddar: Spread apple butter on a slice of white bread. Top with grated cheddar cheese and another slice of bread. Cook in a skillet with butter until golden {Do Not Press}.
  46. Thanksgiving: Sandwich sliced turkey, cheddar and some cranberry sauce between slices of potato bread. Cook in a skillet with butter until golden {Do Not Press}.
  47. Tomato-Tapenade:Thinly slice a tomato, pat dry and season with salt. Spread 2 slices of bread with olive tapenade. Fill with grated fontina, the tomato and shredded mozzarella. Cook in a skillet with butter until golden {Do Not Press}.
  48. Meatloaf: Layer shredded sharp cheddar and jack cheeses, thinly sliced leftover meatloaf and more shredded cheese between 2 slices of potato bread. Cook in a skillet with butter until golden {Do Not Press}. Serve with ketchup.
  49. Mozzarella in Carrozza: Sandwich 2 slices fresh buffalo mozzarella between 2 slices white bread. Beat 1 large egg with2 tablespoons milk and some salt in a bowl. Dredge the sandwich in flour, the dip both sides in the egg mixture. Cook in a skillet with olive oil until golden {Do Not Press}.
  50. Peanut Butter-Banana: Spread peanut butter on a slice of cinnamon-swirl bread. Top with sliced bananas. Lightly brush another slice of bread with Tueplo honey and set on top. Press and cook until golden.
  

No comments:

Post a Comment