How to Make a Caprese Panini

David's Recipes - how to make a Panini, easy lunch ideas
Take all the flavors of a classic Caprese Salad and transform them into a great sandwich.

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Caprese Panini
Serves 4
Ingredients:
• 3 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 oz fresh Parmesan cheese, cut into 1/2" pieces
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 8 slices Italian country-style bread, sliced 1/2" thick
• 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 12 oz fresh Mozzarella cheese, sliced
• Oil cooking spray

Preparation:
Place the basil, garlic, Parmesan pieces, salt, and pepper into a food processor and pulse 5–6 times. While the machine is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady small stream until fully incorporated. If needed, occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the container. Place the mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate until needed.

To assemble the sandwiches, coat 1 side of each bread slice with cooking spray. Place the bread slices on a clean work surface, oiled-sides down. Spread the basil mixture on the inside of all 8 slices. Evenly distribute the tomatoes and Mozzarella cheese on 4 of the bread slices. Cover with the other 4 bread slices, oiled-sides up, and press together gently.

To make the paninis, preheat a press or set a large grill pan over medium heat. Cook the sandwiches for 5–7 minutes, or until golden brown and the cheese is melted. If using a grill pan, be sure to flip the sandwich. Serve immediately.




To me a Caprese Salad is the perfect dish. It’s simple, colorful and really flavorful. Now, when I serve this salad to my guests, I serve it with a little crust of bread. So I got to thinking, what if we took all the flavors and ingredients of a Caprese Salad and turned it into a panini. It’s really simple, let me show you how. The key to making a great sandwich is using the freshest possible ingredients. Splurge a bit on the mozzarella and parmesan. And if you can taste those vine ripened tomatoes first, that’s not an unusual thing to do at a farmer’s market, you’ll thank yourself with every bite of this panini. Be sure to pair this sandwich with a soup or salad. You could try my Cream of Asparagus Soup or my Grilled Corn Salad. You can find these recipes on QVC.com and as always, you can find my how-to videos on YouTube.