Looking for a quick and easy meal idea? Try a panini! They are perfect for lunch or dinner. We love making them because they are fast, healthy, and we can “build our own.”
Josh always puts turkey on his, but I stick to all veggies. We just use what we have on hand, but some of my favorites are: zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, mushrooms, roasted peppers, onions, tomatoes, and artichokes. I LOVE loading on the veggies. The sandwich smashes down so it is good to start with a mile high panini!
We use whole wheat ciabatta rolls from a local bakery. I always brush the bread with balsamic vinegar and sometimes I add pesto or a spicy mustard. We also add cheese, Josh likes a lot, I like a little mozzarella.
If you don’t have a panini maker, no worries. You can use a pan and smash the panini down with another pan. I highly recommend buying a panini maker though, we LOVE ours. We have the Villaware model.
Serve your paninis with a salad, fruit, or side of veggies and you are set!! Get creative and use whatever sandwich fillings your heart desires! The recipe below is pretty vague, I am sure you can figure out how to put together a panini:) Use your favorites and enjoy!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Panini Sandwiches
Whole wheat ciabatta bread (or bread of your choice, thick/hearty bread works best)
Meat (Josh uses turkey, use whatever you like)
Veggies (Add on lots!)
Balsamic Vinegar
Pesto, Spicy mustard, or any other condiment you wish
Cheese of your choice
Salt and Pepper
1. Heat up the panini maker or pan.
2. Cut the bread and brush each side with balsamic vinegar.
3. If using veggies, brush them with vinegar and grill them on the panini maker or pan. I like to do this to bring out the flavor in the veggies before they go on the sandwich.
4. Add meat, veggies, and cheese, condiments, salt, and pepper or whatever toppings you are working with to your bread.
5. Place the panini on the maker and smash…or smash with another pan.
6. Cook for about five minutes.
7. Cut and enjoy!
Maria You Panini looks so good I love the bread can’t wait to try. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Those sound like a great idea for a quick lunch. I like how you can mix it up to suit your taste.
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing : )
Mmm, fabulous pressed sandwiches!!
Enjoy your weekend!!
yum 🙂 i love a good pannini, too!
Now those look like great lunches!
If there’s one thing I truly miss after going on a gluten free diet, it’s a yummy sandwich like this. I don’t know that gluten free bread could make this yummy of a panini!
I’ll soon have to try making panini sandwiches with homemade bread… Yours look fantastic!
Cheers,
Rosa
your sandwiches are making me crave for one right now… and it’s already 230am!!! lol… 🙂
panini with roasted veggies, my favorite sandwich ever!!! 😀
oooh I love paninis!
Why is it that everything tastes so much better when it is smashed, warm and gooey? 🙂
Panini are fun, aren’t they?
Love all the veggies.
LL
Do not let my husband know that you do not need a panini press to make these. I am vying for one.
Do you know that I love, just love peanut butter and banana panini's! Of course these ones you just made look so good, but it makes me crave a pb & b one soooo badly.
They look so good!! You can use a George Foreman grill too!
I think you just used all of my favorite veggies in ONE sandwich. How perfectly delicious–and healthy! Yum, I’m totally craving one of these for lunch now!
Now that’s a panini!
We are huge panini fans here. So easy and versatile! I use my Griddler to make them. Yours look out of this world!
I love paninis, these look delicious!
I’m with you on the all veg and mozza 🙂 Have a great weekend, both!
I soooo need a panini maker!
The panini sandwich looks DELICIOUS! I am drooling over here!
They look yummy! I like the idea of brushing the bread with balsamic – double yum!
i make panini”s all the time, so good.
i’m not sure what makes paninis so much more enjoyable than a regular sandwich, but i think it’s the crunchy bread. i like the squashed look of them too. 🙂
Your panini looks like one I would make! I love them with veggies piled high and I love to use the panini maker for the same reason as you do — it’s so easy to personalize so everyone gets what they like 🙂 Thanks for the tip about brushing the bread with balsamic vinegar, that sounds delicious!
I need to try making paninis, they look fantastic and i think my family would like them.
Now these look yummy. I love all the veggies.
I’m totally with you on this one! So versatile and it’s fun how everybody can make a different one! I have to try the balsamic thing, I’m usually a olive oil girl!
Your panini looks fabulous. I love the combination you chose. I have a panini maker still in the box. I have to go dig it out.
The word “panini” is already in the plural form, so the correct term for one pressed sandwich would be “panino” (the word “sandwich” is unnecessary and redundant).
Despite all of that, the sandwich look scrumptious!!
Can’t go wrong with a panini!
Those are good looking panini sandwiches!
I definitely prefer warm sandwiches over cold ones.
I would love to have a Krips panini maker. I love the company but I also love panini’s:D
YUM! I plan on using my panini press that I got for Christmas to make quesadillas and egg sammys this week! I can’t wait! Hope you two had a good weekend. I still am trying to find time to email you! We have had another busy weekend! Hopefully tomorrow 🙂 Sorry I’m so slow!
Just wonderful Maria. I made paninis last week, but made them from scratch. Yes, smashed them down with a heavy pan over my grill pan kie you write, & they were YUM!!
I really love panini sandwiches and yours look mouth watering!!
I keep seeing paninis lately and it reminds me that I don’t use mine nearly enough. Those look great!
Panini….the only kitchen appliance I don’t own. Sigh..
I love paninis! We grill up lots of extra veggies in the summer for pizzas and paninis, and pastas… pretty much every wonderful thing that starts with P!
Wow those Panini’s look so good!! Your food always has me drooling ;o)
Maria
x
Your panini sandwich looks great! I don’t have a panini maker, but was wondering would the little George Foreman grill work to make these? I know we have one of those tucked away somewhere in the cupboard!
Love paninis. I’m making some for dinner tonight!
I got a panini maker for Christmas and I’ve been loving it!
These look fabulous. Looks like I might have to invest in a panini maker. 🙂