HERBY GRILLED PANINI WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, SPINACH, VEGAN OR REAL MOZZARELLA AND TOMATOES
HELPFUL TIP:
One of the secrets of preparing a fantastic panini is to make sure that the grill is hot. This way, you’ll achieve better grill marks. Another secret is that you don’t need a panini press; actually, you can use a frying pan instead. Place something heavy (like a heavy pan) on top of your panini. No grill marks this time, but a fantastic panini nonetheless.
RATING
SERVES
4
PREP TIME
15 min
COOK TIME
30 min
Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp extra virgin Greek olive oil
- 1 medium onion cut in half and then into thin slices
- 3 cups baby spinach trimmed and torn
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- Greek sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 8 thick slices of sourdough bread or 4 pieces of ciabatta split with a serrated knife
- 12 ounces 340 g cashew-milk or fresh cow’s milk mozzarella fresh, thinly sliced
- 12 large flat-leaf basil leaves whole
- 2 to matoes cut into 12 rounds
Instructions
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Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a cast-iron or other heavy grill pan over medium high heat. Add the onions. As soon as they start to sizzle, reduce heat to very low, cover the skillet, and cook the onions until soft and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and stir, then add the spinach and cook until wilted. Add the balsamic vinegar and orange juice to the skillet, stir and cook another few minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove and cool slightly. Wipe the skillet clean.
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Using a serrated knife, split the bread in half or have two slices of sourdough bread ready per panini. Layer the mozzarella, spinach-onion-garlic mixture, basil and tomatoes over the bottom half of the bread. Cover with top slice.
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Heat another 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the grill pan. Press down and place in the grill pan. Grill until the bread is golden and the cheese melts, about 4 to 5 minutes per side, pressing the sandwiches with a large spatula to flatten them as you grill them. Remove and serve.
Want to learn more easy, healthy Mediterranean diet recipes? Sign up for my online course “Mastering the Mediterranean!“
Want to learn more easy, healthy Mediterranean diet recipes? Sign up for my online course “Mastering the Mediterranean!“
