panini

Kitchen gadget-lovers: fuzzles needs our help. She recently asked the community for panini press advice:

I have so far remained steadfast in my resolve to not purchase a panini press, but I am faltering quite quickly. A pending move has spurred most of this. I am thinking that this would be a great counter-top piece for super-quick sandwiches while settling in. Well, that and the fact that I will be living about 3 miles away from one of the best, if not THE best, Mom and Pop Italian delis in the metro. In short, we're talking preventative wallet-pummeling, folks. Sound good so far? The problem is, I want to find a quality press for around 50 clams. Is this even possible? Any input about your individual panini experiences, past and present, would be greatly appreciated. The good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between! Thankful and passionate culinary fondles in advance!

At $80, the panini press that I have is out of her budget. However, if you're a sandwich lover, fuzzles, I recommend you definitely invest in a press. I've used mine countless times; it's so fun having a panini party! Do you have a panini maker? Share your tips with us below.

Have you been celebrating National Panini Month? OnSugar blogger House of Anais has! Here, she shares her scrumptious-looking sandwich.

I just read from YumSugar about August being national panini month and decided to have my own little lunch-time panini celebration. This is how the house of Anaïs panini turned out - it was delicious and the key ingredients included multi-grain bread, Swiss cheese, roma tomatoes, roasted chicken, Parma ham, organic lettuce mix and of course Dijon mustard (my favourite kind of mustard).

Want more? Start following House of Anais, then upload your favorite panini recipes by creating your own OnSugar blog.

It's National Panini Month and although a panini in Italian refers to any kind of sandwich, I always think of a panini being a hot pressed sandwich. A crispy panini with gooey melted cheese makes a stellar meal, but it's easy to get caught up in a sandwich filling rut. Tired of the same old ham and cheese? Here's how you can make a more exciting panini:

1. Add fruit. A fresh blackberry jam pairs perfectly with prosciutto and brie. Sliced peaches add pizazz to pancetta and fontina. Mango and mint take a mozzarella sandwich to a whole new level.
2. Think outside the condiment box. Mayonnaise and mustard are great, but anything can be spread onto a sandwich to add flavor. Hummus, guacamole, honey, pesto, and salsa are delicious options.
3. Do dessert. Instead of having a sandwich for lunch, why not have one for dessert? Melted chocolate and nutella taste wonderful in between toasted, buttery bread.
4. Change up the bread. A panini can be made on any type of bread. Sourdough, focaccia, and ciabatta are perfect vessels for paninis, but so are bagels, croissants, and even hamburger buns!

What's your favorite panini filling?

Source: Flickr User stevendepolo

During the Summer, I prefer to eat lighter dinners and often find myself turning to sandwiches. Not just any old sandwich, but one that incorporates the season's ingredients and cooking tools. I'm talking about vegetables like eggplant and bell peppers that are cooked on the grill. This recipe is the perfect example of this type of sandwich.


Three types of cheese make it decadent, but fresh herbs and veggies keep it from being heavy. The entire thing is cooked on a grill, so you don't have to worry about sweating in the kitchen. A hearty spinach salad completes the uncomplicated vegetarian meal. Interested in the recipe? Here it is.

It's the little things in life that make me happy: satin ribbons, painted nails, and crispy melted cheese sandwiches. To kick-start the weekend, I'm treating myself to an oozing and seasonal asparagus panini. I'll even take things up a notch by adding in several slices of paper-thin prosciutto. Of course, I'll enjoy it with a chilled glass of white wine and a lightly dressed mixed green salad. It's a perfect relaxing dinner for one, so get the recipe now.

Fat Tuesday is tomorrow and even if you live far from New Orleans, you can get into the spirit of things by making this seriously scrumptious sandwich. A muffuletta is a thick sandwich with layers of Italian meat, cheese, and olive salad. Traditionally muffulettas are served cold on a round roll. However, this ingenious recipe (sometimes you have to love Rachael Ray — she does sandwiches right!) treats the muffuletta like a grilled cheese.I took it one step further and made it into a panini. The bread becomes toasty and crisp, the cheese melts and oozes, the meat is juicy and delicious, and the giardiniera mixture is hot with a fiery crunch. It's a spicy full-flavored sandwich with lots of attitude. You simply must make this sandwich! Why? Because YumSugar called it the best thing she ate all week. For the recipe, please read more

Just because you don't have a panini maker doesn't mean you can't enjoy pressed sandwiches. I make them all the time with two frying pans and a couple of cans of food. Here's what you do:

1. Prepare the sandwiches, then place in a hot pan.
2. Set another frying pan on top and weigh it down with several heavy cans. Cook for a couple of minutes, remove the top frying pan, and flip the sandwich.
3. Return the pan and cans into place and finish cooking the sandwich.

While you won't get the pretty grill marks that come from a panini press, you will get a deliciously crispy exterior and melted cheese center. Have you ever made pressed sandwiches this way?

Like peanut butter and jelly, the pairing of ham and cheese has been around forever. However, it just doesn't get old. When I'm in the mood for a comforting and quick meal, I make this ham and cheese panini. Served with mixed greens or a bowl of soup, it's the perfect dinner for one. Caramelized shallots and fresh thyme give it a touch of elegant sophistication, while grainy mustard ensures that the sandwich isn't too dry. It's nostalgic and homey, but gourmet enough to offer guests at a luncheon or impromptu weeknight dinner. Want the recipe? Read more.

I'm finally getting around to paying my respects to National Panini Month, while also fulfilling a sandwich promise I made to myself not long ago. After being disappointed by The Sentinel's pork and fig sandwich that didn't actually contain figs, I pressed together this panino before fig season bids its sad farewell.

When I came up with the "fruit and nut" idea, I thought: this could be terrible. But thanks to this morning's discovery of the perfect bread — a seeded raisin roll from a nearby bakery — the panino turned out to be one of my favorite creations! I love warm nut butters, and even with the fruit, this sammie isn't to sweet. Serve it for lunch or breakfast, and get the recipe now.