Caprese Panini

A Caprese salad comes from the Island of Capri in Italy.  It is meant to resemble the Italian flag, with it’s red, white and green colors.

It is sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella (sometimes called buffalo mozzarella) that can usually be found in the supermarket’s fancy cheese section.  The “green” is either whole fresh basil leaves or, my favorite, basil pesto.

I love it in sandwich version…sort of like a grown-up grilled cheese!

You can use a panini grill, an indoor grill such as a George Forman, or just a good ol’ fashioned skillet!

Ingredients:

2 slices Italian bread
2 Tablespoons prepared pesto (check out my pesto recipe here)
2 slices tomato
2 slices fresh mozzarella
½ Tablespoon butter

Directions:

1.  Spread 1 slice of bread with 1 Tablespoon pesto.  Top with tomatoes and cheese.  Spread remaining pesto on remaining piece of bread and place on tomatoes and cheese.

2.  Spread ½ of the butter on top side of sandwich. Place buttered-side down on grill.  Spread remaining butter on the top of sandwich.  Grill until both sides are golden brown and cheese is slightly melted.

Serves 1

Caprese Panini