Pollo Pomodoro Panini Recipes

GRILLED PORTOBELLO PANINI

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat.
• Add the mushrooms and red peppers to a sheet tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Grill the portobellos for 3 minutes per side, 6 minutes total. Grill the red peppers for 5 minutes per side, 10 minutes total. Remove from the grill and set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Cut two 4-inch pieces of bread, then slice in half lengthwise. Spread the Herbed Cream Cheese Spread on each piece of bread. Pile on the grilled portobellos, red peppers and arugula on 2 slices of the bread and close the sandwiches.
• Place the sandwiches on top of the hot grill pan and place a cast-iron skillet on top to press. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, and then flip and cook 3 to 4 more minutes on the remaining side. Slice on a diagonal and serve.
• Add the cream cheese, basil, chives and garlic to a bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Season with salt and pepper.

POLENTA WITH POMODORO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: The adult brings a medium pot of water to a boil, reduces it to a simmer and prepares an ice bath for the tomatoes. Scoring each with an X, the adult slides the tomatoes into the simmering water for 15 to 20 seconds and then, using a slotted spoon, removes and places them in the ice bath for about 15 seconds.
• If the child has knife skills, he or she can use a paring knife to core the tomatoes and then peel the outer skin. The child cuts each tomato across the middle and squeezes each half to remove the seeds. The adult chops the tomato coarsely and slices the garlic.
• Using a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, the adult heats the olive oil until it shimmers, then adds the garlic and cooks until fragrant but not browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. The adult adds the tomatoes, simmering until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. The child stirs occasionally. The adult chops the basil coarsely and sets it aside.
• Prepare the polenta: The child grates the Parmesan. The adult brings 6 cups of water to boil in a medium pot, reducing to a simmer.
• Under adult supervision, the child can slowly add the polenta. The adults stirs constantly until the polenta is thickened, between 10 and 40 minutes, depending on instructions on the box. As the polenta begins to thicken, the adult adds the cheese and butter. When finished, the polenta should come away from sides of the pan and be able to support a spoon. Serve topped with the tomato sauce and basil.

PASTA AL POMODORO

Steps:

• Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a 12" skillet over medium-low heat. Add minced onion and cook, stirring, until soft, about 12 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 2-4 minutes. Add crushed red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute more. Increase heat to medium, add puréed tomatoes and season lightly with kosher salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld, about 20 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir in basil sprigs, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a 5-quart pot. Season with salt; add spaghetti or bucatini and cook, stirring occasionally, until about 2 minutes before tender. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
• Discard basil and heat skillet over high heat. Stir in reserved pasta water to loosen sauce; bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring, until sauce coats pasta and pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat; add butter and cheese; toss until cheese melts. Transfer to warm bowls; serve with more cheese, if desired.

SPAGHETTI POMODORO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil.
• Place the olive oil and garlic in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Swirl the pan to coat the garlic with oil and heat until garlic sizzles but doesn't brown, about 30 seconds. Add the red pepper flakes and stir. Add the tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and sugar and stir to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for at least 20 minutes but no more than 30. Add the basil for last 5 minutes of cooking. Remove the basil before serving.
• Meanwhile, with 10 minutes to spare before the sauce is done, generously salt the boiling water. Add the pasta and cook until tender but slightly firm. Set the timer for 2 minutes less than the package instructions specify and taste for doneness. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a serving bowl. Toss with 1/2 cup of the sauce. For each serving, spoon on a little extra sauce, grated Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper on top of the pasta.

PASTA POMODORO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Pour olive oil in a large deep skillet over high-heat. Saute onions and garlic until lightly browned. Reduce heat to medium-high and add tomatoes, vinegar and chicken broth; simmer for about 8 minutes.
• Stir in red pepper, black pepper, basil and cooked pasta, tossing thoroughly with sauce. Simmer for about 5 more minutes and serve topped with grated cheese.

PORTOBELLO PANINI

Steps:

• Slice the stems off the mushrooms so they can lay completely flat. Slice each cap in half to form 8 round slices.
• Spray a large nonstick grill pan with cooking spray and preheat over medium high heat.
• Top the bottom half of the mushrooms with tomatoes and cheese. Cap with remaining mushroom rounds. Brush the top sides of each sandwich with oil. Place mushroom sandwiches in the pan oil side down and cook for 2 minutes. Brush the top with oil, flip and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

QUICK CLASSIC PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Spread a ciabatta half with some pesto, and layer with prosciutto and mozzarella. Spread some tapenade on other half; layer with peppers and fontina. Cover with remaining bread.
• Heat a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Brush bread with oil. Place a sandwich in skillet; weigh down with another skillet. Cook until golden brown on first side, 3 to 4 minutes; flip, and cook until other side is golden and cheese has melted, 3 to 4 minutes more.
• Transfer to a baking sheet; keep warm in oven while grilling other sandwich. Cut each half into pieces. Serve immediately.

POLLO POMODORO PANINI

Steps:

• 1. In small bowl combine Parmesan cheese, basil and garlic. Sprinkle over one side of each tomato slice. Set aside.2. Brush cut sides of focaccia with olive oil. Set aside.3. Coat cold grill rack with nonstick coating. Preheat grill. Place patties on grill rack over medium heat. Grill for 6 minutes. Turn patties. Grill for 2 minutes more. Top each patty with cheese slice, if desired. Place tomato slices, Parmesan side up, and bread pieces, oil side down, alongside patties on grill rack. Grill about 2 minutes more or until cheese begins to melt and bread begins to brown.**4. Arrange spinach on half of the bread pieces. Top with patties, tomato slices and remaining bread pieces. Serve immediately.*NOTE: If desired, substitute one ciabatta loaf for the focaccia**NOTE: If desired, prepare in oven. Bake patties according to package directions. Top each patty with cheese during the last minute of baking, if desired. Remove from oven. Keep warm. Place tomato slices, Parmesan side up, and bread pieces, oil side up, on shallow baking pan. Broil 4-inches from heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese begins to melt and bread begins to brown. Assemble sandwiches as directed above. Serve immediately.

PENNE PORTABELLA (COPYCAT OF PASTA POMODORO'S DISH)

Steps:

• Soak the dried porchini mushrooms in the hot water (about 10 minutes), then squeeze the liquid out of the mushrooms and chop it up. Be sure to reserve the tasty soaking water for the sauce!
• Prepare the sausage according to package directions (cooked throughly and browned), drain.
• Cook the pasta according to package directions as well, however, minus one to two minutes to finsh "cooking" in the sauce. Meanwhile start the sauce:.
• Heat up a large pan (large enough to fit the pasta in), add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, sautee garlic just until fragrant, add in cooked sausage, portobello mushrooms and porchini mushrooms, and (first add 1/4 cup) of the reserved porchini soaking water as well as the wine. Let this cook for a few minutes. If the portobello mushroom is still dry, add more of the reserved soaking water (add all if possible), cook until the portobello is browned and tender.
• Add cream and heat through, stirring to incorporate the flavors together. Next add the cooked pasta and arugula or spinach leaves, cook for a minute or two to let the pasta soak up the sauce and wilt the arugula or spinach.
• Taste and adjust seasoning, adding parmesan cheese then salt and pepper if desired.

PROSCIUTTO PROVOLONE PANINI

Steps:

• On four slices of bread, layer a slice of cheese, a slice of prosciutto and a second slice of cheese. Top with remaining bread. , Brush both sides of sandwiches with oil; sprinkle with sage. Cook in a panini maker or indoor grill until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.