It is difficult to come up with a better snack for all occasions than a sandwich with all kinds of fillings. This dish may well be useful if you use the right ingredients: fresh vegetables, good cheese, lots of herbs and natural sauce. One of the varieties of such a sandwich is Italian panini. You can find a recipe for their preparation in this article. And also - look here for ideas for a variety of fillings so that the dish does not have time to get bored. Let's start
Where does panini come from?
The birthplace of panini is Italy - a country of bright tastes, large portions and an endless fiesta. Italians know a lot about what a truly appetizing, hearty and tasty dish should be like, even if it's just a regular sandwich. There, this dish is called Panini Imbottito, which translates to "stuffed panini" or literally "a small bun with bread." Such a sandwich will be an excellent option for a quick breakfast or lunch, and it is also convenient to take it with you on a picnic or on the road. Let's learn how to cook panini. The recipe is very simple.
Soft panini rolls
The first thing we need is small soft buns or white round bread with a crust. Buns can be prepared on their own. Here's what you need for this: 500 grams of flour, 200 grams of water and 100 grams of milk, 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1.5 teaspoons of yeast and salt. Of these components, you need to knead the dough, and then form small bars (or baguettes). First, they should be kept in a warm place for 15 minutes, then we make cuts on them with a sharp knife, sprinkle with water and put in the oven. Bake at 180 degrees for half an hour. We have ready buns for home panini. Sandwich recipe can be chosen independently, depending on your favorite products.
Panini Sandwich Filling Options
Traditionally, the panini filling is made from the following components: a slice of ham, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and pesto. However, now in cafes and restaurants serving this dish, you can choose the filling for every taste. It can be mushrooms, any fresh or baked vegetables, cheeses of different varieties, meat and pastes, all kinds of sauces and other seasonings. Here is a very interesting variant of panini: cut the bun along, on one side put the provolone cheese, pickled eggplant, a little arugula and cheese again. Cover with a second half and fry in a dry pan, crushing bread with a spatula. If there is, then you can use a sandwich maker or waffle iron, but without them it will turn out well.
And here is a more satisfying version of panini. The recipe for buns is the same, and the filling will be more "masculine". Grind the garlic and basil with a knife, add tomatoes (fresh and dried) and salt to taste, beat everything in a blender until smooth. With this sauce, grease the halves of the panini bun, top with strips of grilled bacon and grated cheese. Pre-heat the sandwich in a pan. Serve with fresh vegetable salad. You can invent other fillings yourself using your favorite ingredients. It can also be something sweet: caramelized fruits, jam with cream cheese, chocolate paste with bananas and so on. What do traditional panini look like? Photos of these delicious sandwiches are at your service. Isn't it even salivating from their sight?
PS Do you know that there is Panini, completely unrelated to cooking? This is an Italian company that does not produce sandwiches of the same name, but panini stickers, as well as game cards, comics and other collectible products. Its subjects are various - the world cups, hockey, basketball and other sports, cartoons, movies and so on. Therefore, when the conversation comes to panini, specify which one, otherwise there may be a misunderstanding. Enjoy your meal! Or good luck in collecting!