articles online: food & wine

How To
Make the Perfect Panini
and other great stuff
-a supplement to the August / September 2009
issue of Decatur Magazine

from Melodie Burrus at Del's Popcorn Shop

A panini grill is essential due to its unique, rising hinge. This hinge allows the two grill surfaces to always be parallel to each other for good surface contact between the ridges and the bread. Non-stick grills are best for easy clean up. I always pile the layers twice as high as I think it should be, as they compact during grilling. Inspiration for panini layers can come from almost anywhere…favorite salad combos, favorite pasta combos, favorite pizza combos, left-overs in the fridge, and of course, any of your favorite cheeses. Often, the oils used to brush on either outside piece of bread are flavored oils and will be the first ingredient listed in each recipe. EVOO…extra virgin olive oil and no butter, as it will burn. Bread choices are 1 of 3…Ciabatta, sourdough or foccacia…dense and chewy.

Most traditional:
Evoo, prosciutto, emmanthaler cheese (called a “Croque Monsieur”…add a sunny egg to this and it’s called a “Croque Madame”)

Love black and blue salads?
Roasted Galic Grapeseed Oil, thinly sliced steak, Maytag Blue Cheese, crispy bacon, red onion slivers, sliced tomatoes. If cheeseburgers are your thing… substitute Applewood Smoked Cheddar for the Maytag.

Love greek salads?
Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil, artichoke hearts, Olive & Herb Spread, basil, spinach leaves, feta cheese, Greek Salad Olives, pitted and sliced.

Love Italian salads?
Rstd. Garlic Gr. Oil, grilled portabello mushrooms, sundried tomato, Parmigiano Reggiano, Mushroom Bruschetta Topping, spinach leaves.

Want more Vegan ?
Basil & Garlic Grapeseed Oil, grilled zucchini slices, red onion, fresh spinach, Snofrisk Goat Cheese, alfalfa sprouts.

Citrus & Cilantro Grapeseed Oil, avocado slices, roasted red peppers, red onion slices, spring lettuces, Manchego Cheese, Chipotle Lime Mustard Mayo(2 Tbls Chipotle Lime Mustard, ½ cup mayo, ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped).

Have left-over grilled chicken?
(Southwest)Tahitian Lime EVOO, grilled chicken, Applewood Smoked Cheddar, Bacon, sliced tomatoes, black olives, Chipotle Aoili, fresh cilantro.

(Italian) Rstd G. G. O., grilled chicken, fresh spinach, sliced tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano, Lemon Aioli

(Thai) Tahitian Lime EVOO, grilled chicken, bean sprouts, green onions chopped fresh cilantro, Chipotle Peanut Finishing Sauce.

Love a club?
Smoked ham slices, smoked turkey slices,

Love Hoagies?
Rstd G. G. O., Dried Italian salami, Genoa Salami, Prosciutto, Pecorino Pepato Cheese, Artichoke Bruschetta Topping.

Breakfast Panini
EVOO, Scrambled eggs, crispy smoked bacon, Applewood Smoked Cheddar Cheese.

Dessert Panini
EVOO, peanut butter Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce and banana.

This is an online supplement to an article which originally appeared in the August / September 2009 issue of Decatur Magazine.
It may not be reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the publisher's consent.
© Copyright 2009 Decatur Magazine - First String Productions. All rights reserved.