Do you ever have a craving for a delicious Italian dinner but do not have the time to make homemade pizza and it is too hot to stand over a hot pot of pasta boiling on the stove. Try these amazing Italian caprese panini. We did not actually have a panini maker but we improvised with an old school waffle maker that had a double sided grill. (You can also use a pan on the stove top with another heavy pan on top and then flip the sandwich over halfway through baking.)The result is a crispy outside, cheesy gooey and delicious inside filled with mozzarella, roasted red peppers, red onion, garlic, basil, sliced tomato and spinach. It is best served hot right off the panini press dipped into a balsamic vinegar dressing.
Ingredients
Ingredients
4 large ciabata style rolls (crunchy outside and soft inside)
12 ¼ inch slices fresh mozzarella cheese
2-3 fresh garlic cloves smashed
3-4 slices red onion
1 roasted red pepper You can sauté in a pan or roast in the oven)
8 basil leaves chopped into small pieces
2 cups baby spinach leaves
2 tomatoes sliced (8-10 slices)
homemade balsamic vinegar dressing see recipe below
Instructions
Cut Ciabata bread in half lengthwise.
Open up and layer on bottom half-cheese, tomato slices, red onion, red pepper,spinach and basil. Spread the smashed garlic on the other side.
Press two halves together and put into a panini press.
Let sandwich heat until cheese is melted and top and bottom of the ciabata is crispy.
Cut in half and serve with Balsamic vinaigrette for dipping sauce.
Recipe by Growing Weisser at https://www.growingweisser.com/italian-caprese-panini