Ever feel too lazy to make dinner? Well this rarely happens to me but every now and then I just don’t feel like making a full fledged meal. The joys of being able to cook allow me this luxury. I can make whatever I want and so when I feel like paninis for dinner I make it happen.
I really don’t eat bread often. To be honest I only eat it when I’m on vacation (weekend getaways count) or hung over. Any other time I just rationalize that the added calories are not worth it. On this day though, (following Julia Robert’s mentality in Eat Pray Love) I was sick of the calorie counting, self-punishing behavior and just decided to have sandwiches for dinner.
You’ve just got to treat yourself sometimes right?
No panini maker? Not a problem. Just place the sandwich in a grill pan and top it with an incredibly heavy object – if you’ve got a cast iron pan or dutch oven that’ll be perfect. Flip it over and do the same thing. Ta-da – paninis are ready.
As for the filling – I just went with what I had in the fridge but as with everything else cooking related the possibilities are endless.
I fully enjoyed this panini. Want proof? Well D could only muster himself out of a nap to eat half his sandwich so while he went back to snoozing I ate the other half (as well as my own full panini).
Now I remember why I limit my bread eating to only vacation or hang over days – because there just isn’t any self control over here.
What’s your favorite panini? Any suggestions for what to add to my next one?
- 2 large piece focaccia, cut in half
- ¼ pound turkey cold cuts
- ¼ cup roasted red peppers
- ½ tomato, sliced
- 2-4 tablespoons basil pesto
- 2 ounces pepper jack cheese, thinly sliced
- Spread pesto on each piece of bread. Split up topping between both sandwiches and layer them on top of the bottom bread piece. Top with other bread piece.
- Heat grill pan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Add sandwiches and place large heavy pan on top (dutch oven is perfect). Cook for several minutes.
- Flip over and repeat. Serve hot!
Welcome to Avocado Pesto! Long time foodie and travel enthusiast, I started this blog to share my curious culinary efforts and kitchen endeavors. Here you'll find a smorgasbord of ethnic cuisines and hopefully a few humorous tales too.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, that looks delicious. I also limit my bread intake but I’ll eat a sandwich for dinner sometimes instead of anything else so that should be OK, calorie wise. So many choices of what to put in it…
Anita at Hungry Couple recently posted..Peach and Banana Smoothie
Thanks! My main problem is that I can never just limit myself to one sandwich – I always want more or want other snacks to go with it – like a plate full of chips!
Wow! these look amazing!!!
Thanks! Let me know if you try making them!
I don’t eat sandwiches too often either. If I am going to eat a sandwich it better be gosh, dang, good. This looks like toasty, and delicious.
Kari@Loaves and Dishes recently posted..BEEF AND CHEESE JALAPENO PEPPER POPPERS
Yes definitely agree with you – if I’m going to eat a sandwich it’s got to be amazing!
Your sandwich looks very delicious, i’ll make it for lunch next week. Happy Weekend
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it! Feel free to add your own spin on it!
This sandwich looks fabulous. I always forget to use pesto in sandwiches! Love this recipe!
katie recently posted..Lemon Herb Dressing
Thanks! Oh you’ve got to add pesto to sandwiches – it’s the best!
Yummy! This looks so good and I love the colors in it. Very pretty
Heidi @ Food Doodles recently posted..5 Greek Yogurt Ideas
Thanks! Though I rarely eat sandwich and basically never make paninis I fully enjoyed this one!
I’m not a huge roasted red pepper fan, but this does look good. My “go to” panini is grilled chicken breast (pounded thin) with chipotle mayo, spinach, fresh tomato and monterey jack cheese on a good rustic bread. I do find the brushing olive oil on the bread helps create a nice crust and the added flavor of the oil. I know, I know, the calories, but if I’m going to indulge let’s go for it.
I’m not a huge roasted red pepper fan either but I feel like it works in this panini – though I’m sure if you omit it or replace it with some other veggie it would be just as good. Will have to try your panini – the brushing of the olive oil is a brilliant idea! And hey once I start eating bread the calorie counting for the day just goes out the window!
This sounds like a pretty darn delicious panini to me! I don’t think I’d be able to control myself, either =)
Peggy recently posted..Spicy Fried Chicken Tenders w/ Chipotle Honey BBQ Sauce
I sure wasn’t able to! By the time Dave woke up his half of the panini that he left over was gone!
These sandwiches look divine. I would surely have to try these, I love panini sandwiches and you got a great combination of flavors here. Thanks for sharing.
[email protected] recently posted..Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
Thanks! I don’t know why but that one night I was just craving paninis for dinner – I think that’s the first time I’ve made them at home in years, but I sure did enjoy them! Heading over to check out your wings recipe now — I absolutely LOVE buffalo wings and can’t afford to eat the fried ones all the time!