Grilled Mexican Panini Recipes

BASIC GRILLED PANINI

Steps:

• Drizzle olive oil on 1 side of each bread slice. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on the other side of each slice. Pile Cheddar cheese, ham, tomato, and onion on top. Top with other bread slice, mayonnaise side down.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat; spray lightly with cooking spray. Place sandwich on grill; weigh it down with a heavy pan. Cook until cheese is melted and grill marks appear, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

GRILLED MEXICAN PANINI

Steps:

• Heat panini grill.
• Spread cut sides of bolillos with guacamole, then aioli; fill with turkey and cheese.
• Grill 5 min. or until golden brown.
• Cut in half to serve.

GRILLED VEGETABLE PANINI

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle the oil over the eggplant, zucchini, and onion slices, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the eggplant, zucchini, and onions until they are tender and grill marks appear, about 4 minutes per side. Cool completely.
• Cut each baguette into 6 pieces. Working with one baguette piece at a time, slice in half and spread both sides with the pesto. Working with the bottom slice of the baguette, stack 2 slices of eggplant, 2 slices zucchini, 1 slice onion, 1 slice tomato, 1 slice mozzarella, and 1 slice of roasted pepper. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place top half of baguette on top and continue with remaining baguette. (The sandwiches can be made 4 hours ahead. Wrap well with plastic wrap and refrigerate.)
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup (about) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• In a blender, pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper until finely chopped. With the blender still running, gradually add enough oil to form a smooth and thick consistency. Transfer the pesto to a medium bowl and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese. Season the pesto with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The pesto can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Yield: 1 cup
• Prep Time: 10 minutes

MEXICAN GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute peppers in oil until tender. Spread 4 bread slices with mayonnaise. Layer with peppers, salsa and cheese. Top with remaining bread. Butter outsides of sandwiches., In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sandwiches for 2-4 minutes on each side or until cheese is melted.

GRILLED ITALIAN PANINI

Steps:

• Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Cut a circle 1/2 inch from edge of bread, cutting 2 inches down into loaf but not all the way through. Remove center of bread loaf and set aside. Arrange salami inside bread loaf; top with peppers, tapenade and cheese. Place center of bread loaf over filling to fit tightly. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
• Cover and grill loaf 4 to 6 inches from low heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until cheese is melted.
• Brush olive oil over top of loaf. Cut loaf into 4 wedges.

GRILLED CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Preheat panini grill.
• Sprinkle Chicken breasts with Natures Season and coat with oil. Brown both sides of chicken on panini press of flat grill.
• Slice chicken into small cubes and put in bowl.
• Spray bottom of one flour tortilla and put sprayed side down on large plate.
• Sprinkle generously with shredded mexican cheeses all the way to the edges.
• Top with diced chicken breasts.
• Top with sliced green onions.
• Top with cilantro.
• For added kick you can add jalapeno peppers if desired.
• Top with second flour tortilla.
• Spray top of shell with Pam.
• Carefully move whole quesadilla onto heated grill.
• Flatten.
• When cheese starts oozing out of sides take off carefully and put into plate.
• Cut into 8 equal triangles with pizza cutter.
• Serve on plate with taco sauce, guacamole, and sour cream.
• Watch them disappear!

CHICKEN AND AVOCADO PANINI SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat panini press to medium. (Or can grill on skillet or George Foreman).
• Peel and remove pit of avocado. Coarsely mash avocado in bowl using fork (leave some chunks). Add lemon juice and stir. Stir in onion, cilantro, chopped jalapeños, and tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread thin layer of mayo on bread slices.
• Assemble sandwich by layering onto bread sliced jack cheese, chicken, bacon, avocado mixture, and grated cheddar. Top with remaining slice of bread.
• Grill until heated through and crispy on the outside. If using Naan bread, slice into six triangles. (If using other bread/tortilla, cut according to size of sandwich).