Italian Caprese Panini
Do you ever have a craving for a delicious Italian dinner but do not have the time to make homemade pizza and it is too hot to stand over a hot pot of pasta boiling on the stove. Try these amazing Italian caprese panini. We did not actually have a panini maker but we improvised with an old school waffle maker that had a double sided grill. (You can also use a pan on the stove top with another heavy pan on top and then flip the sandwich over halfway through baking.)The result is a crispy outside, cheesy gooey and delicious inside filled with mozzarella, roasted red peppers, red onion, garlic, basil, sliced tomato and spinach. It is best served hot right off the panini press dipped into a balsamic vinegar dressing.
Ingredients
4 large ciabata style rolls (crunchy outside and soft inside)
12 ¼ inch slices fresh mozzarella cheese
2-3 fresh garlic cloves smashed
3-4 slices red onion
1 roasted red pepper You can sauté in a pan or roast in the oven)
8 basil leaves chopped into small pieces
2 cups baby spinach leaves
2 tomatoes sliced (8-10 slices)
homemade balsamic vinegar dressing see recipe below
Cut Ciabata bread in half lengthwise. Open up and layer on bottom half-cheese, tomato slices, red onion, red pepper,spinach and basil. Spread the smashed garlic on the other side. Press two halves together and put into a panini press. Let sandwich heat until cheese is melted and top and bottom of the ciabata is crispy.
Homemade Balsamic Dressing
¼ cup olive oil
⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic smashed
½ teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons honey
Pour all ingredients into a salad dressing emulsifier and mix until well blended.
- Ingredients
- 4 large ciabata style rolls (crunchy outside and soft inside)
- 12 ¼ inch slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2-3 fresh garlic cloves smashed
- 3-4 slices red onion
- 1 roasted red pepper You can sauté in a pan or roast in the oven)
- 8 basil leaves chopped into small pieces
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- 2 tomatoes sliced (8-10 slices)
- homemade balsamic vinegar dressing see recipe below
- Cut Ciabata bread in half lengthwise.
- Open up and layer on bottom half-cheese, tomato slices, red onion, red pepper,spinach and basil. Spread the smashed garlic on the other side.
- Press two halves together and put into a panini press.
- Let sandwich heat until cheese is melted and top and bottom of the ciabata is crispy.
- Cut in half and serve with Balsamic vinaigrette for dipping sauce.
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove garlic smashed
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Pour all ingredients into a salad dressing emulsifier and mix until well blended.
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Going to make the sandwiches this week! They sound absolutely delighted and healthy, too!