Fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese all come together with a little balsamic drizzle making this summertime Caprese Panini sandwich a delicious light weeknight dinner!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
Easy recipe: this caprese panini recipe is easy to make and it won't heat up the kitchen!
Quick lunch: ready in just 10 minutes, this sandwich will satisfy you at lunch without taking away too much time.
The taste of summer: fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil add so much to this grilled sandwich and it is bursting with fresh flavors.
🥘 Ingredients
Bread: choose a firm crusty bread that will hold up well to juicy tomatoes.
Fresh mozzarella: fresh is best for this sandwich and I recommend splurging for it.
Fresh tomatoes: garden fresh tomatoes lend the taste of summer that is so delicious!
Butter spray
Fresh basil
Balsamic glaze: a reduced balsamic vinegar that is tangy and sweet and adds a delicious contrast of flavor to the sandwich.
🔪 Instructions
- Heat panini grill until hot.
- Slice roll in half and assemble as follows: cheese, 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze, tomato slices, 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze, and basil. Top with top half of roll.
- Spray bottom of panini grill with butter spray. Place sandwich on top of hot grill. Spray top of bun with butter spray.
- Close panini grill and cook 3-4 minutes, until cheese starts to melt and bread is toasty and golden brown.
🥄 Equipment
Panini grill or grill pan (see tip on using grill pan)
🥫Storage
It is likely that you won't need to store the cooked sandwich itself as it is a recipe for 1 person. However, store the components to the sandwich (the cheese, basil, tomatoes) in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
📖 Variations
- Fresh arugula can be substituted for the fresh basil.
- Spread your favorite sandwich spread on the bread in place of the balsamic glaze.
💭 Tips
- If you don't have a panini grill, use a grill pan or large skillet. Place a 2nd heavy skillet (like cast iron) on top of the sandwich when grilling to press.
📚 Related Recipes
Babybel Mozzarella Mini Caprese Skewers are perfect for summer picnics.
Panini lovers will love this Buffalo Chicken Panini.
A panini sandwich for breakfast that is also good enough for dinner
Caprese Salad is an excellent appetizer or side dish for any summer barbecue.
🍽 Serve with..
Serve caprese sandwichs with a green side salad.
📖 Recipe
Caprese Panini
Equipment
- Panini grill or grill pan
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Ingredients
- 1 ciabatta roll
- 3 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- 3 slices fresh tomato
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 teaspoons balsamic glaze
- Butter spray
Instructions
- Heat panini grill until hot.
- Slice roll in half and assemble as follows: cheese, 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze, tomato slices, 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze, and basil. Top with top half of roll.
- Spray bottom of panini grill with butter spray. Place sandwich on top of hot grill. Spray top of bun with butter spray.
- Close panini grill and cook 3-4 minutes, until cheese starts to melt and bread is toasted.
mjskit
What a great idea! We're definitely having this for lunch tomorrow! Thanks for the idea.
Christine's Pantry
Looks wonderful! Love it!
Jersey Girl Cooks
Love this sandwich!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
I just love this sandwich, Shelby! Perfect for dinner on a hot summer day.
Carolyn
Hi again, Shelby. You asked about erythritol/xylitol in my muffin recipe. Those are both sugar alcohols, because I am a diabetic. If your husband and his coworkers don't need to be sugar free, I'd say put 1/2 cup regular sugar in the recipe to replace both the erythritol and the stevia. And make the glaze with powdered sugar.
Maria
Love this one! So fresh and delicious!
Aggie
I could eat like this every night of the week! Looks delicious!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
Love caprese sandwiches! They are my favorite summertime quick meal.
sweetpeaskitchen.com
Caprese salads are one of my favorite things to make during the summer. I know that I would love this panini. 🙂
Carolyn
Okay, I swear I suggested this exact thing to my husband when we were kicking around ideas to use the basil in our garden! Looks fantastic, I need to revisit the idea all over again.
Kathleen
Shelby I love this sandwich! My hubby would need some meat too!
Mads
Ooo I saw that in the recent CL and wanted to try it. I'm glad it turned out!
I already have the makings for their caesar salad sammy for this week's lunches http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/caesar-salad-bagels-50400000114451/
honeyb
Yum! I would totally love this--and just like Grumpy, my husband would expect some kind of meat in there! I actually have fresh mozz, tomatoes and basil right now. Hmmm, what's for lunch?
Fallon
Oh yum!! I love the flavors in a caprese salad. I think a good bread roll is very important for a sandwich like this!
The heat hasn't been bothering me much either. I work in AC all day and then come home to a cool house. The only problem I will have sometimes is when the AC in my car doesn't want to work. It only decides when it wants to work. Grrr 😉