Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Panini with Pesto, Tomato and Brie—Lunch For One with Pictorial



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Remember the homemade classic pesto recipe I shared with you not too long ago?  If you missed that recipe by any chance, no worry, just click here and you’ve got yourself covered.  Why?  Because today’s recipe involved some of that yummy homemade pesto.  Of course, you can buy store bought pesto.  But why?  When you can make Pesto that is a lot more delicious, with no preservative and costs just half the price, or less?  Did I mention that you can get the pesto done in less than 15 minutes too?  Oh yeah.  Now, I think you’ve got no reason not to make your own.

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This post and recipe is part of the “Lunch for One” series.  As I promise to share with you quick and easy "Lunch for One" ideas form time to time.  If you haven’t done so, check out the other "Lunch for One" recipes as well after this post.  But today, let’s focus on this Panini with Pesto, Tomato and Brie!  As the weather is cooling off, I enjoy a hot sandwich a lot better than just a plate of salad.  Who doesn’t like gooey melted cheese and juicy tomatoes in between two slices of crispy and golden brown bread?   Plus, you can simply put anything in these awesome sandwiches that fit your mood, or whatever you need to clean out from the fridge.  I happened to have brie and some salami in the fridge so that’s what I used.  You can skip the salami and make it vegetarian or put deli sliced ham or prosciutto to create that salty-meaty bite. 

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It’s super easy to make too, come follow me to the kitchen!  If you don’t have a Panini grill, no biggie, you can still make these on the stove top with a grill pan or non-stick frying pan. Here’s the pictorial.

1) Heat the Panini grill to medium-high heat.  My Panini grill have the red and green light to signal me when the grill pan is ready at the temperature I set.

2)  While the Panini grill is pre-heating, work on the ingredients.  I brush the outside of my sliced bread with extra virgin olive oil.  That adds nice flavor as well as helps the breads to get golden brown and crispy.

3) Flip the bread over and spread some pesto on the inside of the sliced bread.

4) Top with a thin slices of brie cheese on both sides. 

Pictorial A

5) Top with sliced tomatoes on one side of the bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

6) Top with a few slices of salami, or meat of your choice.

7) Cover with the other slice of bread.

8) Place the sandwich on the Panini grill at an angle and close the cover.  Grill until golden brown and crispy on the outside and cheese is melted and bubbly inside.

Pictorial B

I simply cut my Panini diagonally into 4 triangles.  With a side salad, it’s enough to serve two for a light lunch.  Or, eat the whole sandwich yourself and don’t share.  It’s that good!  Hope you enjoy today’s recipe and lunch idea.  Until next time.  Take care and enjoy the cool weather. 

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Panini with Pesto, Tomato and Brie:
Serving: 1 Sandwich

(Printable Recipe)

2 sliced of bread, 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick, any kind that you like
2 teaspoon of pesto
4 thinly slices of brie cheese
1 small tomato, thinly sliced
kosher salt and pepper, to taste
a few slices of salami, or meat of choice.

Preheat the Panini grill to medium-high heat.  While the Panini grill is pre-heating, work on the ingredients.
Brush the outside of the sliced bread with extra virgin olive oil.  Flip the bread over and spread the pesto on the inside of the sliced bread.

Top with brie cheese on both sides. Then, place sliced tomatoes on one side and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Top with a few slices of salami, cover with the other slice of bread.

Place the sandwich on the Panini grill at an angle and close the cover. Grill until golden brown and crispy on the outside and cheese is melted and bubbly inside.  Enjoy.

32 comments:

  1. That is one delicious lunch. I love this! Great pictures.

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    1. Thank you. Glad you like the pictures. Yes, super delicious lunch. I can keep my panini grill on the counter top for this Fall and Winter so I can make it often. hehe...

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  2. Oh Amy I loves this...because I loves having this for lunch. And you just remind me that my panini grill has been sitting inside my store room for so long. It is time I take out to make this. So yummy.

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    1. :) I know...I have my panini grill in the cupboard for a while too. This is really perfect for cooler weather. Hope you enjoy it.

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  3. You remind me it's high time I brought out my panini press from the cupboard. It's been awhile. And the thought of a crisp, cheesy sandwich has me obsessed now. ;)

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    1. hehe....yeah, my panini press had been sitting in the cupboard for a while before this too. But now, it's almost on my counter every other day! :)

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  4. Hi Amy, thanks for sharing this easy and cheesy sandwich. I've been thinking to get a panini grill as I saw there is an offer at one hyper store.

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    1. Oh...you should totally get one. I got mine years ago as a wedding gift and it's more than just a panini grill. I grilled hamburgers, chicken, fish, etc on it as well. So convenience when you don't want to start the big grill outside. ;)

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  5. Great photos and that looks delicious!

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  6. You didn't have to make me lunch! This IS for me, right?

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    1. Yes, I would love to share. Food tastes better with great company! ;)

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  7. oh this looks like healthy indulgence! I am so loving this, will have to take the panini maker out and clean away the dust!

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    1. Oh yeah...my panini grill has been on my counter since the day I took it out. I think I can eat panini every day and not get board. Think of all the different ingredients I can put in them. ;)

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  8. They are not only healthy also very very tasty!

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    1. Thanks,Angie. :) Yes, these are so good that my panini grill has been very busy lately.

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  9. YUMMY! I love that like me, you're fixing yourself a meal for one today...makes me feel not as alone, lol. Lovely panini! I LOVE the pesto! =)

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    1. Thank you. Since my kids started school...I have many "lunch for one" moments. hahaha...glad this makes you feel not as alone. I guess my sharing on the blog makes me feel just the same way.

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  10. Oh Amy, you panini looks delicious, and so flavorful...and yes I would love to have it for lunch :)
    Great pictures! Hope you are enjoying your week :)

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    1. Thank you. Glad you like it. Wish you a wonderful rest of the week as well.

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  11. What a great lunch. Now I'm craving one.

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    1. Thank you. Glad you like it. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  12. Lunch for one sounds like such a relief, Amy--I have an incredibly difficult time cooking for myself at times and get into ruts where I don't always feel like eating just because I don't enjoy making single servings. This sounds like a wonderful change of pace, though, and I do love pesto :)

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    1. I love food so much that I couldn't skip lunch...even though I'm fixing just for me, myself...and I. :P Hope you'll try some of my recipes from the "lunch-for-one" series. I try to keep things quick and simple.

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  13. I believe yummy is definitely the right word for this. Yummy!

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    1. Thank you. It was yummy. Wish I can share it with you.

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  14. Unlike my son who enjoys Japanese food for lunch, my daughter loves sandwich made with panini. Almost everyday she wants something that has cheese in it. I make one with pesto too, but I never combined pesto with brie. I must give it a try next week! I sort of got tired of panini, and changes are good! :D Thanks for sharing your recipe. Good timing!

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    1. It's funny how kids love different things and have different personalities too, huh? My kids are the same...maybe a good thing so they don't have to "fight" over the same thing all the time. LOL...

      I always try to put different ingredients in my panini to keep things fresh. I'm one of those people who can't eat the same things twice in a week. hahaha...sounds so high maintenance. :P

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  15. I do love a good panini and this one looks wonderful especially with your homemade pesto.

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    1. Thank you. I'm glad you like it. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  16. I definitely need one of this for brunch!
    Kristy

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    1. Thank you. I would love to share. ;) Thanks for stopping by.

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