Crazy for Panini?

My husband is. He can have a panini for every meal if I was willing to drag out and clean up our Mario Batali cast iron panini press everyday. It is quite a heavy press. But I've been very happy with it for the past two years every time I felt like it's time to treat my boy friend now husband to a homemade panini.


Panini is an Italian sandwich. What makes it so unique is after the sandwich is assembled, it is grilled and pressed so that the cheese melts, gluing the two pieces of bread together. Quite an invention, I tell ya!

Paninies are quite easy to make. They do take time and patience if you choose to do everything from scratch. I made my own sourdough bread for Panini until I discover Panera's sourdough, which they even slice them for me. I've gotten a little lazy.

This is one of those dishes that you can make with anything that fancies your apatite. Chicken, roast beef, tomatoes... anything you want. Just have to choose the right condiment to go with your main ingredient.

On Saturday, I made a South-western Chicken Panini for lunch after my husband (Seth) spent the whole morning digging 3-foot deep holes in our yard for a fence. He was quite pleased.

South-western Chicken Panini
For the cilantro pesto, pulse together:
3 tbsp. cilantro, packed
1 jalapeno (seeded diced, use less if you don't like spicy)
2 cloves garlic
salt
olive oil

The pesto should be creamy in texture when done.

For the chipotle mayonnaise, mix together:
1 tbsp. minced chipotle in abodo*
1/4 cup mayonnaise

*Chipotle in Abodo comes in a can. I usually only use 1-2 tbsp. at a time. So I usually put the rest in a ziplock bag and freeze it. Next time you need some, just cut out the desired amount and put it back in the freezer.

And you will need a few slices of sourdough bread, left over chicken cut into pieces, Havarti cheese, and butter.

To assemble the panini, spread the pesto on one slice of bread, top with a few slices of cheese, then chicken. Spread the chipotle mayonnaise on the other slice of bread and put it on top of the chicken. Spread butter on the outside of the sandwich, this will keep the bread from sticking to your grill.

Now you are ready to grill and press your panini. Don't have a panini press? Use a regular frying pan and press with another frying pan on top.

Preheat your press/frying pan on medium high heat. Grill your sandwich 2-3 minutes per side. Press down on the sandwich while grilling for even toasting and make sure that the bread slices stick together. And you just made a panini!


South western is not your thing? Substitute the cilantro pesto with a regular pesto by using basil instead of cilantro and pine nuts instead of jalapeno. Skip the chipotle in your mayonnaise. And use mozarella instead of havarti cheese. And you got yourself an Italian Panini. Or skip the chicken from the Italian Panini and you got a Caprese Panini. Try roast beef with horseradish mayonnaise and cheddar cheese. Or even take your favorite sandwich and grill it (without lettuce though, unless you like your lettuce soggy and wilted). This is where you let your taste buds take you wherever it wishes! Have fun and Bon Apetit!