Well, I just bought myself a Panini press, and I’m thrilled. This new toy gave me an idea, fresh Focaccia for my panini. I’m using my Homemade Focaccia With Garlic and Rosemary for the Perfect Panini.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes (5 minutes per pannini). Times may vary.
Total Time: 30  minutes
Yields: 8 servings
Equipment: Panini press, chef’s knife, cutting board, meat-safe cutting board

Ingredients:
4 slices of  Homemade Focaccia With Garlic and Rosemary (substitute Ciabatta or a good artisanal bread)
6 slices of fresh Mozzarella cheese, 1/4-inch thick slices
6 slices of Prosciutto, thinly sliced
6 slices of Capicola, thinly sliced
6 slices of Genoa salami, thinly sliced,
6 slices of roasted Piquillo peppers, julienned
6 large fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons of fresh store-bought (Buitoni) basil pesto, 1/2 tbsp divided per slice
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, freshly-ground to taste

Instructions:
Preheat the panini press according to the manufacturer’s directions. Using non-stick cooking spray, liberally spray the panini press.

On a flat surface, lay two slices of focaccia to use as the bottom portion of your sandwich. Spread 2 tablespoons of the fresh store-bought basil pesto, evenly divided, on the bottom half of each piece of Foccacia. Place three slices of each of the deli meats on each slice of focaccia.

Next, slice the sliced Mozzarella, add Kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper to taste. Finally, top with the roasted julienned peppers and fresh basil leaves. Place the tops on each sandwich and press down firmly. Place the sandwiches into the Panini press and close. Cook until the bread is golden-brown with beautiful grill marks, and the cheese is completely melted, around 2 1/2 minutes per side.

Cut each of the 4 paninis in half for a total of 8 servings.

There you have it, my version of The Perfect Panini. 

To get my recipe for Homemade Focaccia With Garlic and Rosemary, click the link below.

Notes:
1) I’m only using one of the two Focaccia breads that I previously made for this recipe.

2) Linda Lou Hamel is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value are important to you, I recommend running the ingredients through the online nutritional calculator of your choice. Calories and values can vary depending on the brands you choose.

https://lindalouhamel.com/2019/04/12/homemade-focaccia-with-rosemary-and-garlic/