Servery Creations: Hot and Heavy: The Panini

By Reed Thornburg     1/17/12 6:00pm

The word "panini" literally means "bread roll" in Italian, but colloquially it has come to mean any sandwich that has been toasted in a weighted press. So those are our rules: We must craft a sandwich that through the process of toasting and pressing magically transforms the common cold-cut into the dense, delectable edible that we know as the panini. The most important idea to keep in mind when crafting your panini is that the sandwich section is only the beginning. The real secret is learning how to effectively use the rest of the servery to incorporate new flavors into the sandwich.

As such, the first sandwich highlights this process of using the entire servery and pays homage to this panini's country of origin: Italy. The goal is to create a rich sandwich that showcases a broad range of tastes while maintaining an essentially Italian flavor palette.

Secondly, we explore some of the most intense flavors in the servery, while still finding balance. The second sandwich uses the strong aroma of blue cheese against the counterpoint force of intense spice from the Sriracha spread.

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Armed with these panini recipes as simply a guide, explore the servery with a new perspective on how you can meaningfully manage the transformative press.

Italian-Themed Panini

Ingredients:

• 2 slices whole-wheat bread

• 10-15 slices salami

• 2 pieces romaine lettuce

• 2 slices tomato

• 1 slice provolone cheese

• 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon basil pesto

 

First, mix the mayonnaise and basil pesto in a small bowl until a uniform consistency is met. Next, evenly spread a thin layer over one slice of the whole-wheat bread. Layer salami on the other half of the sandwich, and then overlap lettuce. Complete the sandwich by placing a slice of provolone atop the lettuce, and finish with the other slice of bread. Lastly, prepare the press by spraying a small amount of oil spray, and slide the sandwich onto the hot surface. Check the sandwich every 20-30 seconds until golden-brown, and carefully remove.

Bold Chicken Blue Cheese

Ingredients:

• 2 slices whole-wheat bread

• 4-5 slices shaved chicken

• 3 slices cooked bacon

• 2 tablespoons blue cheese

• 2 slices tomato

• 1 tablespoon Sriracha

• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise

 

Similar to the Italian-Themed Panini, begin by creating the spread by combining the Sriracha and mayonnaise. Working in layers, apply the spread and add chicken. Then, add the tomato slices and bacon. Carefully add the blue cheese crumbles and top with the other half of the bread. Lastly, press the sandwich in the panini, being careful to check often until a light amber-brown color is reached.

 

If you have any suggestions, comments or favorite servery recipes, please email Reed Thornburg at rst4@rice.edu.

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