50 Panini

Build your perfect sandwich with these hot-off-the-press ideas from Food Network Magazine.

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Caprese Panini

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Caprese Panini (No. 1)

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Caprese Panini (No. 1)

How to Cook Panini
In a panini press: Preheat the press. Add your sandwich and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions until golden and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.

On the stove: Preheat a skillet with butter or oil to medium low. Add your sandwich, then press a heavy pan on top to weigh it down. Cook until golden and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

1. Caprese Brush the inside of a split sub roll or sliced Italian bread with olive oil. Fill with 2 slices each fresh 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-Mozzarella 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 fillet 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 or 4 slices roasted turkey breast to the sandwich.

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

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Chicken Saltimbocca

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Chicken Saltimbocca

7. Chicken Saltimbocca Brush the inside of a split ciabatta roll with pesto. Fill with sliced grilled chicken, fontina and prosciutto, and 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. Press and cook until golden.

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

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Chorizo-Pear Panini

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Chorizo-Pear Panini

9. Chorizo-Pear Make Apple-Manchego Panini (No. 8) with sliced pear instead of apple; add sliced Spanish chorizo to the sandwich.

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

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Roast Beef-Onion Panini

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Roast Beef-Onion Panini

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, salami, fontina and roasted red peppers. Press and cook until golden.

12. Bacon-Date Brush the inside of a split French 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 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 of mozzarella, fontina and asiago. 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 the 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.

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

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BBQ Panini

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

BBQ Panini

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 sliced, 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 Dijon 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 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-Gruyère 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 Gruyère. 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.

 

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

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Lobster Panini

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Lobster Panini

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 golden.

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 more 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 skillet.)

38. Turkey Cuban Make Cuban Panini (No. 37) with sliced turkey instead of ham and roast pork.

 

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

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Nacho Cuban Panini

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Nacho Cuban Panini

39. Nacho Cuban Make Cuban Panini (No. 37) with chopped pickled jalapenos instead of dill 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 thick slices of 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).

 

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

FNM_oct10_062810-045.tif

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Food stylist: Jamie Kimm

44. Berry Croissant Lightly spread the inside of a split croissant with marshmallow creme. 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 sharp cheddar 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 rustic 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 mozzarella between 2 slices white bread. Beat 1 egg with 2 tablespoons milk and some salt in a bowl. Dredge the sandwich in flour, then 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 honey and set on top. Press and cook until golden.

 

9 Paninis

See All Photos

Caprese (No. 1)

Brush the inside of a split sub roll or sliced Italian bread with olive oil. Fill with 2 slices each fresh mozzarella and tomato, and a few basil leaves; season with salt and pepper. Press and cook until golden.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Chicken Saltimbocca (No. 7)

Brush the inside of a split ciabatta roll with pesto. Fill with sliced grilled chicken, fontina and prosciutto, and chopped fresh sage. Press and cook until golden.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Chorizo-Pear (No. 9)

Brush the inside of a split soft roll with olive oil and quince paste or fig jam. Fill with sliced pear, manchego cheese and Spanish chorizo; season with salt. Press and cook until golden.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Roast Beef–Onion (No. 10)

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.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Three-Meat (No. 11)

Brush the inside of a split Italian roll with olive oil. Fill with sliced soppressata, capicola, salami, fontina and roasted red peppers. Press and cook until golden.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

BBQ (No. 20)

Fill a soft sesame roll with pulled pork, shredded cheddar and charred red onion. Press and cook until golden.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Lobster (No. 31)

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.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Nacho Cuban (No. 39)

Spread the inside of a split Cuban or other soft sub roll with yellow mustard. Fill with chopped pickled jalapenos, deli ham, roast pork and cheddar cheese. Add salsa. Press and cook until golden. (This is traditionally done in a skillet.)

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

Berry Croissant (No. 44)

Lightly spread the inside of a split croissant with marshmallow creme. Fill with bittersweet chocolate chunks and sliced strawberries. Press and cook until golden.

©Marcus Nilsson - www.marcusnilsson.com

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