Panini
What is a Panini?Panini is plural for pannino which is basically a grilled Italian sandwich. The word "panini" means "little breads" in Italian and apparently originated in a restaurant in Milan, "Paninoteca Bar Quadronno", where a variety of these little sandwiches were created for their menu.The panini have become popular in the U.S. and are served at many restaurants for lunch and dinner. These toasted sandwiches are a delicious twist on the basic grilled cheese sandwich, and a great way to get rid of left overs!
A good panini grill will have a hinge that allows you to put variety of different sized sandwiches on the grill while the lid will still fit it down perfectly. These panini presses can also be used as indoor grills make them a handy little kitchen tool you may want to invest in. You can also use a cast iron pan with grill ridges and a weight. This will hold the sandwich down while cooking and create a nice toasty bread with grill marks. What type of bread?You can use any bread you like while a popular choice is the ciabatta roll. These are square or rectangle rolls with a rounded top. You can use a sharp serrated knife to slice off a little of the top to make it flat, then slice in the middle to create 2 halves. This will make it lay flat on your grill and cook evenly. I also like to use sourdough because the slices cook evenly and the sourdough adds some more flavor. Foccacia bread also makes a flavorful sandwich. Experiment and see what breads work best for you.Traditional paninis were filled with cured meats and salamis but you can fill your panini with anything you like - meats, vegetables and cheese. For flavor you can top your sandwich with roasted red bell peppers. This can be a better choice than lettuce because the peppers won't wilt with the heat and add so much more flavor than lettuce. I also love to serve mine with some pepperocini peppers on the side. These Italian peppers are just hot enough to add flavor but not too hot and can be found in jars next to the pickles in any grocery store. 
Tips for toppings:
Don't use more than 4 ingredients - these sandwiches are more like grilled cheese than subs and they won't cook well if overstuffed. Stick with ingredients that heat well: roasted vegetables, meats and cheeses. Tomato and onion slices are ok but skip the lettuce because it will come out warm and wilted. Once you have chosen your topping, put your sandwich together. I like to use a brush and brush olive oil lightly on both sides before placing on the grill. Grill until heated through, any cheese has just melted and you have nice golden brown color to your bread. They don't take long at all, just a few minutes in a hot grill or cast iron pan. These tasty grilled Italian sandwiches make a great lunch, but are also a quick and easy dinner for weeknights when you don't want to cook. Add a bowl of soup and you have a quick meal!
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You do not need a panini press but they do make the job easier as they cook both sides at once to perfection.
