I love pesto, so I had to share a super easy way to enjoy a quick panini without the hassle of making the pesto from scratch. and without a panini pan. Non panini press not to worry you can still make this recipe without one. Panini is a traditional small Italian sandwich filled with meat, cheese, grilled veggies and toasted on a delicious bread. The great thing about a panini is that you can pile it high with meats and veggies and when it gets pressed down the sandwich becomes manageable to eat. This recipe is for two people but make as many as you want just increase your ingredients.
Smoked Turkey Pesto Panini
hearty bread – I used “Soy Crunch”
favorite smoked turkey
cheddar cheese
spinach leaves
sliced tomato
sliced red onion
avocado slices
Mayonnaise or (I hate to say it but the impostor Miracle Whip)
store bought pesto (or fresh if you’re up for it)
butter
Directions:
Step 1: Gather all your ingredients like this, take equal parts mayonnaise and pesto and mix together. I used 1 heaping T. of each. Spread on the bread to your liking. My husband likes lots of spread, me not so much.
Step 2: Stack the turkey, then tomato and cheese on one half. On the other slice of bread layer spinach and onions and avocado. Put together and spread butter on the side that is facing up. Get your skillet ready and put sandwich in the pan. My pan is teflon so I didn’t grease it first.
Step 3: Now get a plate and put on top of the sandwich, add a heavy can of some sort and put on top to flatten the sandwich and cook for about 2 min. on medium high or until the underside is nicely browned. When the sandwich is done on one side take off the plate with a hot pad and butter the sandwich then flip over to cook the other side. Return the plate with the can on top until it is cooked (approx. 2 min.)
Yummo looking panini! I never use a *press* either 🙂
Blessings!
Gail
Can you hear my tummy grumbling for a bit of this panini?
🙂
ButterYum
going to the store to get the stuff to make these tonight. Ali and I don't care for tomatoes so I think I'll swap out with roasted red peppers.
Roasted red peppers sound so good! Hope it's good.
This looks awesome—paninis always take sandwiches to the next level! And I actually just bought a panini press off of someone so I'll have to try this (although I love your method too ;))
Have fun using your panini press if I got one my family would probably hate panini's before too long. 🙂