Celebrate National Panini Month with creative panini, such as this Cheddar Panini With Salami, Fresh Tomato & Red Onion Relish. All photography courtesy of Sargento.

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August 2009

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Bread Products

Panini Pizzazz

Eight Recipes For Pressed Panini Sandwiches

Page 1: Cheddar Panini

CAPSULE REPORT: Cheese producer Sargento has declared August National Panini Month. It’s National Sandwich Month, so why shouldn’t panini, Italian sandwiches, share the glory? To celebrate, we’re bringing you eight delicious recipes, courtesy of Sargento and Chef Jason Denton. If you don’t have a panini maker, you can use an electric countertop grill or a gas grill. This is Page 1 of an 8-page article. Click the black links below to visit other pages.

On The Menu:

In Italy, a panino is a sandwich made on a small roll, ciabatta or other small loaf cut horizontally, like a hero roll. Sometimes, it is pressed in a grill and served hot. Ham (prosciutto) and cheese are favorite fillings. In the U.S., the category of Italian sandwiches, called panini in plural, has been Americanized so that a single sandwich is called a “panini” instead of, correctly, “panino.” (We do the same with salami, the plural of salame.) But, as with many things, it’s too late to correct an entire country. We might as well just sit back and enjoy the panini—singular or plural.

Panini can be made with a panini press, a panini pan or a do-it-yourself pan and pressing tool.

Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press. For a turnkey experience, flick the switch of this electric panini press, place your panini on the 11-by-7-inch nonstick grill plates, close and heat. Click here for more information or to purchase.	Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Panini Pan and Press. No electricity here. For the same price as the electric Cuisinart, cook your panini Old School, on the stovetop flame, with a nonstick pan and a separate press. Click here for more information or to purchase.	Nopro Enamel Cast Iron Panini Press. BYO pan or griddle and just buy the press. It’s the same approach as the Calphalon system at the left, but uses a pan you already have. Click here for more information or to purchase.

Cheddar Panini With Salami, Fresh Tomato & Red Onion Relish

Ingredients For 2 Panini

• 1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• 2 ciabatta rolls or substitute 8 large slices rustic Italian bread
• 6 slices medium Cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces thinly sliced Genoa salami
• 4 thin slices large tomato
• Extra virgin olive oil (optional)

Preparation

1. Cook onion with honey and vinegar in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat 20 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
2. Pre-heat panini press or heat gas grill to medium-low.
3. Slice off the tops of the ciabatta. Split the rolls horizontally in half. Turn bottom halves up and top each with 2 slices of cheese, onion relish, salami, tomato slices and remaining 4 slices cheese. Close sandwiches with top halves of ciabatta rolls. Brush lightly with olive oil, if desired.
4. Cook sandwiches in pre-heated panini maker or on gas grill for 4-5 minutes, turning once, until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown.

Continue To Page 2: Colby-Jack Panini With Honey Glazed Ham & Lemony Arugula

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Recipe courtesy of Sargento. Other material Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. Images are copyright of their respective owners.