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 says
What a great idea! We're definitely having this for lunch tomorrow! Thanks for the idea.
Christine's Pantry says
Looks wonderful! Love it!
Jersey Girl Cooks says
Love this sandwich!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
I just love this sandwich, Shelby! Perfect for dinner on a hot summer day.
Carolyn says
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 says
Love this one! So fresh and delicious!
Aggie says
I could eat like this every night of the week! Looks delicious!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Love caprese sandwiches! They are my favorite summertime quick meal.
sweetpeaskitchen.com says
Caprese salads are one of my favorite things to make during the summer. I know that I would love this panini. 🙂
Carolyn says
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 says
Shelby I love this sandwich! My hubby would need some meat too!
Mads says
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 says
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 says
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 😉