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Garden fresh tomatoes, basil pesto, and fresh mozzarella on a crisp, toasty ciabatta roll. A panini twist on the classic caprese salad.
I love a great panini sandwich. The crunchy bread and the hot melty cheese is irresistible. My husband bought me a panini maker two years ago for Christmas but I don’t use it often enough. So when Kathy, Panini Happy, offered to send me a review copy of her fantastic new cookbook, The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook, I immediately said yes.
There are so many recipes in the cookbook that I’m excited to try. The Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chicken Parm and Chicken Bacon Melt Paninis are on the top of the list. Did you know you can cook chicken breasts on the panini press before you cook the panini?
Of course I was especially attracted to the back of the book where she has dessert recipes like Apple Pie Panini, Grilled Angel Food Cake with Lemon Curd, and Grill-Tarts a version of the toaster strudel made with puff pastry.
I chose to make the Caprese Panini because Kathy said in the book it’s the sandwich she recommends people grill first when they get a panini press. And because now is the perfect time of year to make a Caprese Panini before the juicy, ripe summer tomatoes are gone.
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Caprese Panini
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette cut into 4 portions (I used ciabatta rolls)
- ½ cup pesto purchased or homemade
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- 2 medium-size ripe tomatoes sliced
- 8 fresh basil leaves I used baby spinach
Instructions
- Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat.
- For each sandwich: Slice off the doomed top of a baguette portion to create a flat grilling surface.
- Split the baguette to create top and bottom halves. Spread a layer of pesto inside each baguette half. On the bottom half layer some mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and more mozarella. Close the sandwich with the top baguette half.
- Grill two panini at a time, with the lid closed, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, 5 to 6 minutes .
Disclosure: Harvard Common Press sent me a free copy of the Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook, but all opinions expressed are always my own.
Jenn Timmerman
I’m a college student with a brand new panini press and no where to start. I’d absolutely love a copy of this cookbook! They all sound so yummy.
Louis
Sounds like a great cookbook!
Meryl
Thanks for the giveaway!
Barbara G
I don’t own a panni press been doing it on a grill with a weighted brick. Would absolutely die to own one of these!
Heather
I Follow Barbara Bakes on Facebook.
Heather
I Follow Barbara Bakes on Pinterest!
Heather
I Follow @BarbaraBakes on Twitter!
Heather
This Panini sandwich looks great! I am always looking for new Panini recipes! Great giveaway!
rebecca
delicious love this combo
Deborah
I can’t think of a more perfect sandwich for this time of year!
Jordon
Can’t wait to make these!
Kara
Yum! I’ll have to make this before my basil leaves for the winter. 🙂
marcellina
Mouthwatering! Love this combination of flavours!
2 Sisters Recipes
Love this Panini! Great idea – and the book sounds really good! Thanks for the offer!