Quick Food Fix- Panini Time

Yumm Yumm Yumm... I am super braggy about my Panini’s. One they get done quickly (My Quick Fix rule of 30 minutes and under)and two they are loaded with vegetables and are super delicious. Knocking on wood, this is one thing, my FIL would always ask me to make at least once a week when he is here.

Here is my recipe

Things needed
All vegetables need to be chopped into thin and long slices
Bell Peppers (Any Color)-1
Onion- Pink or whilte - 1
Tomatoes - 2
Cucumber - 1 Big
Carrots - 1 Big (I use the peeler to get thin slices)
Basil Leaves (If readily available)
Chopped Spinach- If you like spinach in Panini’s (we heart them!)
Feel free to add- Zucchini and other vegetable you like!

Spices/ Herbs needed
Dried Basil, Crushed Red Pepper, Black Pepper, Sea Salt (preferably else regular salt)
Others
Butter, Hummus, Pesto, shredded cheese.
Note: You can either buy store bought hummus and pesto or just make them at home. Considering we eat this way often and the Costco Sizes work perfectly for our family- I just store buy them now!
Bread- Preferably Sour Dough (We get ours from Panera Bakery- Any good bakery should carry them), else your choice! We have tried, four cheese bread (Strictly OK), Tomato Basil Bread (Pretty yumm), and Wheat Bread (Makes us feel healthier and tastes good)

Method:
Butter one bread, layer with cheese (I put bare minimum), load with sliced vegetables. Season with spices per taste.
On the other slice- spread pesto and hummus. Make the Panini and then put it in a Panini Press/ Grill/ Simple Pan.
Having the grill or Panini Press will just give the amazing grooves on the Panini!
If you using a pan on flame, make sure to use a spatula/ Paratha Press to press the Panini

- The key part of Panini is that it should get pressed so the herbs and everything mix well. So when you take one big bite, you taste a concoction of flavors and not just one!
_ Another thing to try (If you have more time)- is to grill the vegetables in oven or pan fry them with olive oil and oregano and then make stuffing- Tastes heavenly as well!


Eat away with ketchup, chutney

I tend to make a soup or a salad with the Panini as a complimenting side dish. If nothing else.... have them with chips (It’s your day off from healthy eating for once!)

Other Panini filling variations
- Mozzarella cheese, tomato, Fresh Basil
- Olives, Spring Greens, Italian dressing, Onions, Feta cheese (For the Greek flavors)
- Paneer Tikka, Onions, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes (Though I have not tried this, I am sure will be heavenly)

And for once, I took pictures! Yay! Lazy me got over the laziness! So here is the picture from our weekend Panini Fest!

Thinking out loud- I should get one of those fancy phones and click away