Zucchini Blossom And Fontina Panini Recipes

PANINO DI PROSCIUTTO E FONTINA

Steps:

• Place 1 to 2 slices of fontina atop 1 bread slice. Top with the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Then add spinach and prosciutto. Add the remaining slice(s) of fontina. Top with the second bread slice. Brush both sides of the sandwich with the oil.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-low heat. Grill the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and the cheese melts, pressing down with a metal spatula or grill press, about 4 minutes per side.

ZUCCHINI, FETA AND SQUASH BLOSSOM PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and liberally season with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
• While the pasta cooks, heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Heat the butter and olive oil until the butter melts. Add the zucchini and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the corn and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn has softened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and reduce the heat to low.
• Add the pasta, squash blossoms and chopped basil to the skillet. Stir together, adding the reserved cooking water, if the mixture looks too dry. Add the feta and stir through. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or pepper, if needed.
• Scoop into a large shallow bowl and garnish with basil leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ZUCCHINI PANINI

Steps:

• Cut the zucchini diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices so they are the size of the the width of the bread. Spread them out on a plate or cutting board and season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Preheat a griddle or grill pan to medium-high.
• Cut the bread into 6-inch segments and then cut each segment horizontally almost completely through so you can open it like a book. Open the sandwich halves and press them flat against the work surface with your hands until the bread doesn't spring back. Put cheese on the bottom half of each sandwich.
• Working in batches, melt 1 tablespoon butter on the griddle. Cook the zucchini until slightly browned and soft, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook until pliable and nearly transparent, another 2 minutes. As zucchini is cooked, put it on top of the cheese, dividing equally among the sandwiches. Divide the olives among the sandwiches and close them, pressing to flatten.
• Working in batches, reduce the heat to medium-low and melt 1 tablespoon butter (for a small griddle) or 2 tablespoons butter (for a large griddle). Put the sandwiches on the griddle. Place a baking sheet on top of the sandwiches and weigh it down with something heavy, like canned goods or a cast-iron skillet. The idea is to make the sandwiches as flat as possible. (Alternatively, use a panini press.)
• Cook until the bread is crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook, adding more butter if necessary, until the cheese is melted and the bread is crisp, 2 minutes more. Serve immediately.

ZUCCHINI BLOSSOM AND FONTINA PANINI

Steps:

• Gently rinse and dry zucchini blossoms. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add blossoms and sauté until beginning to brown in spots, turning often, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel and 1/8 teaspoon white pepper. Transfer blossoms to paper towels and gently blot off excess oil.
• Place 4 bread slices on work surface. Sprinkle 1/2 cup Fontina on each slice. Top each with 5 blossoms. Top with remaining 4 bread slices; press down to compact. Lightly brush both sides of bread with oil.
• If using panini grill, cook each sandwich until golden brown, about 7 minutes. If using nonstick skillet, heat skillet over medium heat; add sandwiches to skillet, then top with second heavy skillet to weigh down. Grill sandwiches until golden brown and cheese melts, about 4 minutes per side.

ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE WITH FONTINA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Arrange zucchini slices in the bottom of the baking dish; spread with mushroom soup. Top with fontina cheese and sprinkle with fried onions.
• Bake in preheated oven until mushroom soup is bubbly and cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.

PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI, ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS, AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Gently rinse and dry zucchini blossoms. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until deep golden, about 20 minutes; set aside.
• Cook penne in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini blossoms and sauté until wilted, turning, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels and gently blot. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini cubes; sprinkle with salt and sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, caramelized onion, and crushed red pepper to zucchini mixture; sauté 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add vegetable mixture and 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid to pasta and toss to coat, adding more liquid if dry. Stir in cheese. Transfer pasta to large serving bowl; top with blossoms and sprinkle with parsley.

ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES BAKED WITH FONTINA

Steps:

• Grease a shallow ovenproof dish. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Halve the zucchini lengthwise and trim a little off the uncut sides so that they will sit still like boats. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the soft-seeded centers. Arrange the boats in a row in the prepared dish.
• Put the garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl, stir well, then brush over the cut surfaces of the zucchini. Arrange the halved tomatoes in the grooves. Season well, then sprinkle with olive oil and bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and arrange the cheese over the zucchini and tomatoes. Return the dish to the oven for another 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve immediately while the cheese is still bubbling.

MUSHROOM, SPINACH, AND FONTINA PANINI

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter over med-high heat; add in mushrooms and shallots; saute until mushrooms are softened and release their juices, 3-5 minutes.
• Continue to cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed, 2-3 minutes longer.
• Stir in the Cognac, chopped tarragon, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook/stir, for 1 minute; let cool slightly.
• Preheat the sandwich grill; melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over med-high heat.
• Place bread slices on a work surface and brush 1 side of each with the melted butter.
• Turn and layer 1/4 of the cheese, half of the mushrooms, and half of the spinach on the unbuttered side of two of the bread slices.
• Divide the remaining cheese on top; place the remaining 2 bread slices on top, buttered sides up, and press to pack gently.
• Place the panini in the grill; close the top plate, and cook until the bread is golden and toasted, the spinach is wilted, and the cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes; serve immediately.