Panini sandwiches are a relatively new and very popular menu item at many American restaurants. Italian in origin, these grilled sandwiches are usually filled with meats and / or vegetables and cheeses, which are pressed tightly together, causing the ingredients to interact, which produces an intensely flavorful sandwich.
Panini, or panino sandwiches, as they are traditionally known, are often cooked on a special grill, which is called a panini grill. Generally about the size of an average skillet, with a hinged- top attached, panini grills have grooves, or ridges, on the inside, top and bottom. When the grill is heated, these grooves produce the unique panini grill- marks on sandwiches that are cooked inside of it. Although the use of a traditional panini grill is recommended for producing authentic panini, or panino sandwiches, the intrepid home cook can improvise, using everyday household items, to make excellent panini sandwiches, when no panini grill is available.
An old chef’s trick for making grilled sandwiches cook faster, involves placing a weighted object, quite often a brick wrapped in aluminum foil, on top of the sandwich as it cooks. This same principle can be applied to producing panini sandwiches, without a panini grill. Because the act of cooking itself, in theory, is applying food to a heat source, many variations on traditional cooking methods are often born out of necessity. That having been said, nothing fancier than a frying pan or skillet is required to produce a quite- satisfactory panini sandwich. Although panini grills cook sandwiches on both sides simutaneously, by weighing down the sandwich while grilling, then turning over and repeating the process on the other side, a close facsimile can be produced. The only difference is that the sandwich cooked in a frying pan will not have the distinctive panini grill- marks.
While the traditional type of bread used for panini sandwiches is ciabatta bread, virtually any type of bread can be used. To prepare a panini sandwich without a panini grill, simply heat 1 1/2- 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil or non- stick spray in a frying pan or skillet, to medium- high temperature. Add the assembled sandwich to the pan and place a clean( or wrapped in aluminum foil) brick, or similar object on top. Turn heat down to medium- low and let sandwich cook for 2- 3 minutes. Remove weight and check brownness of bottom side of sandwich. If browned, turn over and place brick back on top of sandwich. Cook for 2- 3 minutes, check for doneness. When cooked to desired temperature, remove panini sandwich from pan. Cut in half, carefully, because steam will probably arise from the center of the sandwich.
There are as many varieties of panini sandwiches as there are cooks. Virtually any ingredients that a person would want to eat between two slices of bread, can be used in the making of panini sandwiches. Listed here are six very tasty and easy- to- prepare restaurant- style panini sandwich ideas.
A) Grilled Vegetable Panini.. Spread pesto on inside of two slices of bread before grilling. Slice and saute, or oven- roast zuchinni and / or yellow squash, onions( red or white), bell peppers( green, red, yellow ), carrots, mushrooms and fresh spinach, top with melted cheese of choice.
B) Grilled Chicken Panini.. Spread mayonnaise or herb- mayonnaise on inside of two slices of bread before grilling. Place sliced grilled chicken, paper- thin red onions, roasted peppers and arugula on bread and grill.
C) Caprese Panini.. Spread garlic- mayonnaise or mayonnaise on inside of two slices of bread before grilling. Place sliced tomatoes, sliced fresh- mozzerella, fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded, or cut into strands, and balsamic vinegar dressing on bread and grill.
D) Turkey, Bacon and Cheddar Panini.. Spread mayonnaise or herb- mayonnaise on inside of two slices of bread before grilling. Assemble sliced, cooked turkey, cooked bacon slices and cheddar cheese on bread and grill.
E) BLT Panini.. Spread mayonnaise on inside of two slices of bread before grilling. Place lots of cooked bacon, sliced tomatoes, lettuce or arugula and cheese of choice on bread and grill.
F) Roast Beef Panini.. Spread mayonnaise or horseradish mayonnaise on inside of two slices of bread before grilling. Place sliced, cooked roast beef, caramelized onions and cheese of choice on bread and grill.
