Grilled Panini Sandwich - Weekend at the Cottage (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a grilled sandwich and a panini? ›

Grilled cheese sandwiches differ from panini in that they are made on a frying pan or skillet. The bread is not necessarily grilled on both sides. For the best panini results, everything needs to be flat; bread, cheese slices, meat, vegetables, and other fillings.

Use Half-Inch Thick Bread To Make A Panini

These include ciabatta, focaccia, rye, French, and sourdough. But no matter which bread you use, your slices should always be about a ½-inch thick. If you use slices that are thicker than that, you'll taste way too much bread when you bite into your panini.

Ham and Cheese Panini

For the toastiest version of this dressed-up grilled cheese, spread mayo (not butter) on the outside.

“Grilled or panini sandwiches are really popular, but are usually prepared with lots of oils or butter to give them a crusty texture,” she says. Instead, just have the bread toasted if you want the flavor of a hot sandwich with fewer calories and less fat, Klamer says. 5. Don't eat prepackaged sandwiches.

In many English-speaking countries, the name panini is given to a grilled sandwich made using various breads, including baguette, ciabatta, focaccia, and michetta.

Butter the outside for crispy grilled bread that heightens the flavour of my favourite panini.

Ciabatta is made with a strong flour and uses a very high hydration dough. While panini indicates any kind of sandwich regardless of the bread used (whether slices or a bun), toasted sandwiches made from small loaves of ciabatta are known as "panini" outside Italy.

The key to a good panini is using high-quality Italian bread (think ciabatta or focaccia) and focusing on the best ingredients without overstuffing the sandwich. Some classic panini recipes are: Mozzarella, tomato, prosciutto, and arugula. Prosciutto and fontina cheese. Prosciutto, cheese, and tapenade.

Keep lettuce or other raw vegetables crisp by adding them after you grill the sandwich. 9. Clean Cut. Use a straight-edged, not serrated, knife to cut panini so that you get a clean, even slice.

Grilled bread is the hallmark of panini – make the most of it by brushing olive oil or melted butter on top for a crostini-like crunch. Or, to save a few calories, Columbus Foodie recommends spraying butter flavored cooking spray, another great idea.

How do you grill panini without a press? ›

Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Place sandwich onto the hot pan. Place another heavy pan onto the sandwich, then add two heavy cans to the top pan. Press down on the cans to compress the sandwich.

Italian breads like focaccia, ciabatta, and baguettes are usually heartier than, say, sourdough, and they hold up better to grilling. Bring the heat. Be sure to get your grill nice and hot before putting your panini on—it'll make for better grill marks.

The Italian panini does not need to be roasted. Whereas, in the panini shops in the US, you are most likely to find grilled stuffing and the bread is also toasted. The quality of bread is paramount in the making of panini. Usually, high-quality Italian bread like ciabatta or focaccia is used.

Panini sandwiches get their distinct look from the grill marks. I like to serve this grilled sandwich with soup or even salad. You can use this recipe to make multiple sandwiches. Just assemble them ahead of time, grill, and place in a warm oven until serving.

A panini press—also known as a sandwich press, indoor grill, or contact grill—is a countertop electric appliance that has heated plates on the top and bottom so it can cook food on both sides at once. The plates can be smooth (like a griddle), ridged (to create grill marks), or reversible with both options.

A panini is a sandwich that's usually made with Italian bread, like ciabatta or focaccia. The main differentiator being that the outside of the panini bread is buttered then pressed or grilled in a panini press, making that warm, crunchy texture and those signature grill marks.

: a usually grilled sandwich made with Italian bread. Note: Panini is a plural form in Italian but is commonly used as both a singular and a plural in English.

The big difference with toasties or toasted sandwiches is the type of bread that is used for a panini, which isn't a sliced, soggy sandwich slice, but real italian bread like ciabatta (uncut). Panini's have made a world-wide breakthrough and for a good reason.