This month I'm helping the newest blogger in our Secret Recipe Club group and posting TWO great recipes I found on two different blogs. First up is this wonderful Caprese Panini by Kate at the Kitchen Trial and Error blog. But let me back up for a minute in case you're unfamiliar with The Secret Recipe Club.
For the uninitiated, The Secret Recipe Club is a group of around 130 food bloggers, separated into four smaller blogging groups, each of which post at different times of the month. Every month, we’re each assigned a blog in our group to look through. We try a few recipes and chose one to post about. But all month, we keep our assignment a secret until ‘reveal day’. It’s been a lot of fun – and I’ve found some great new blogs to follow and new recipes to add to my rotation.
Okay, back to Kate's wonderful blog. Kate is a married 30-something mom of 2 adorable boys, living outside Rochester NY. She works full-time in environmental design and product stewardship, and in her spare (!) time writes her blog to keep track of her recipes. She got into cooking in a very big way when she and her husband were first married, making pasta and breads from scratch, and started sharing recipes at work. After a lot of urging from her husband she decided to launch her blog in 2010. Please go over and check it out - it's full of great recipes like Ina's Maple and Oatmeal Scones and her Black Bean Quesadillas. But first you've got to try this Caprese Panini.
Caprese, of course, refers to a caprese salad composed of basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. Putting them into a vegetarian sandwich is just genius. So easy and delicious.
Grilled Italian Caprese Panini
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Basil Pesto
- 4 large or 6 medium-sized ripe tomatoes sliced into ¼" slices
- 4 sandwich rolls
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced or coarsely grated
- salt pepper, olive oil
Instructions
- Make the Basil Pesto. Alternatively, to make this recipe super-simple and fast, use your favorite store bought pesto (although, honestly, nothing's as good as homemade...).
- Heat a grill pan (or Foreman Grill) over medium high heat and brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil Add the tomato slices and grill for a couple minutes on each side, until softened.
- Slice the rolls in half and spread a thick layer of pesto on the top half of each roll and arrange the cheese on the bottom half. Layer the grilled tomatoes on top and finish with the top half of each sandwich roll. Brush the tops and bottoms of each rolls with the final 1 tablespoon olive oil and place back on the grill pan. Press lightly and cook for 5 minutes. Carefully flip with a metal spatula and lightly press again. Cook for another 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
avril
Mouth watering delicious-ness to the MAX! Panini sandwiches are the VERY best - I adore that this was your pick for SRC this month!! 🙂
sara
This looks so yummy! I am such a panini fan but I rarely make them at home...I definitely need to change that!
danielle
I am drooling over this picture. I need this for breakfast and lunch today.
devangi Raval
I love paninis. Best food for lunch. I would prefer hot panini any time over a cold sandwich. Nothing is better than caprese panini.
Sarah
This just screams summer 🙂 I love paninis, and hardly ever make them. You've inspired me 🙂
Leslie Limon
Yes, please! Sandwiches (of any kind) are one of the few foods I could eat every day and never get bored. Love that these are made with homemade pesto. Happy Reveal Day!
Amanda E
This looks fantastic! Perfect way to use up some summer tomatoes 🙂
Leigh
How good does melted cheese look! Your sandwich is making me hungry. 🙂
Anna
When I finally get some ripe tomatoes out of my garden, I am definitely going to have to try this. Yum!
cheri
This is the perfect sandwich, love this combination!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
This would definitely be the kind of recipe that both my husband and I would LOVE! I've pinned so I can make it soon!
Ladyjorns.Com
Caprese chicken is of my favorite flavor combos, and paninis are always a good idea! Thanks for the post, I ll need to make this soon!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Mine too! As summer rolls in, it's back on our menu too :-). I hope you give it a try.
mjskitchen
The panini is a must make! We've picked our first tomatoes of the season and tomorrow, I'm getting fresh baked bread from the bakery and fresh mozzarella. Can't wait to bite into this sandwich. Thanks!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
It will be perfect for you with all that freshly picked (and baked) ingredients! I hope you like it!