Serrano Piquillo Manchego Panini Recipes

SERRANO CHIPS WITH QUINCE PRESERVES AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Cut ham into 32 (3- by 2- by 2-inch) triangles. Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then fry ham in 4 batches, turning occasionally, until crisp and a shade darker, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Using a cheese plane or vegetable peeler, shave 32 small pieces of cheese from wedge. (Each piece should be about 1 inch square.) Top each ham chip with 1/8 teaspoon quince preserves, then press cheese squares into preserves.
• *Available at specialty foods shops.
• **Available at The Spanish Table (206-682-2827; spanishtable.com).

PAN CON TOMATE WITH SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
• Lightly flour a work surface and place the dough on top. Dust your hands as well and begin to stretch your dough, working in a circle. Stretch the dough until it is 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Place the dough on the grill and cook until charred on both sides, about 10 minutes total.
• Clean and remove the stem ends of the tomatoes. Place them in a food processor and pulse to break them up. Strain the tomato pulp through a large fine-mesh strainer to remove some of the liquid.
• Spread the tomato pulp over the top of the cooked pizza dough. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with sea salt. Top with the Serrano ham and manchego cheese. Drizzle more olive oil over the top.

PANINI-STACKED STICKS

Steps:

• In Italy, my favorite panini (sandwich) is made with ham (prosciutto di Parma) cheese (robiola) and arugula (rucola or rocket lettuce). You can eat it cold, or press it and grill it on a sandwich press or in a skillet. If you want to press it, put a heavy skillet on top of the sandwich as it cooks on a griddle or in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Cook just a minute or so on each side to crisp the roll and slightly warm the filling.
• To make the sandwich, split rolls and cover with provolone. Top with a few pieces of arugula and 2 or 3 thin slices of ham, set the top in place and press down. Cut sandwiches into 8 small cubes or grill to toast the roll, then cut. Stack 8 pieces or 1 panini on each stick, threading 2 hot peppers or 2 jumbo olives in among the panini pieces as you work. Repeat to make 4 (12-inch) panini-stacked sticks.

MANCHEGO AND SERRANO CROSTINI (SPANISH HAM & CHEESE ON GARLIC BITES) RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Saute' garlic in olive oil until lightly browned. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet. Brush slices with olive oil. Assemble crostini, with ham first then cheese. Cook under broiler until cheese is melted and ham is warm. Watch carefully to prevent burning.

BRESAOLA AND RICOTTA PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat a panini press to 400 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, lemon zest, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic. Add about 2 tablespoons EVOO. Slather it generously on the roll bottoms. Fold and quarter the sliced meat to ruffle it and arrange it on top on the cheese. Tuck in the sliced capers and onions among the folds. Toss the greens with juice of 1/2 a lemon and a drizzle of EVOO, about 1 tablespoon. Arrange on top of the meat and set the bread top in place.
• Press panini to crust the bread and warm the ricotta. Split and serve.

MANCHEGO AND SERRANO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Saute garlic in olive oil until lightly browned. Discard garlic if you like.
• Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet. Brush slices with olive oil.
• Assemble crostini, with ham first then cheese. Cook under broiler until until cheese is melted and ham is warm. Watch carefully!
• Serve.