Jodi Liano - Perfect Panini : Mouthwatering Recipes for the World’s Favorite Sandwiches

Bread and cheese have always been a seductive combination, but the Italians do it best with panini. These little bread rolls have become a category of sandwich par excellence, ubiquitous in cafs everywhere. The appeal comes from layering simple, quality ingredientsthinly sliced salami or prosciutto, melting cheeses such as mozzarella or fontina, flavor-packed pestos and spreadson a hefty slab of focaccia or country bread. Smash it down with conviction on the press, and youve got a hot, delicious creation.

In these pages, youll find a panino for every craving and occasion. Recipes start with well-loved classics, using the Italian-inspired ingredients most of us associate with panini: savory cured meats, briny olives, grilled eggplant and zucchini, and saucy meatballs. Signature hot sandwiches join in the mix, such as meaty Reubens, spicy ham-and-pickle Cubanos, and cheesy croques. Other recipes riff on lunchtime favorites, featuring grilled chicken, deli ham or turkey, heaps of roasted veggies, even brown-bag PB&J. These sandwiches could be served cold, but with a few tweaks and a quick stint in the press, they transform into warm and toasty panini.

In the second half of the book, see just how versatile and modern panini can be, drawing on special ingredients like grilled salmon or juicy lamb burgers. Slip in fresh flavors with leafy herbsadding woodsy thyme to mushrooms, or fragrant sage to apples and cheddar. Look for international flavors, such as Spanish manchego cheese or fiery North African harissa. And discover unexpected combinations, such as sweet summer nectarines with Brie, prosciutto with fig jam, roasted pork with pickled onions, and much more.

Panini are effortlessly simple to assemble and cook, as easy to pile on a platter for a picnic or whip up as lunch for one. Whatever you are in the mood for, you'll find countless variations and temptations to savor throughout this book.