Panini Express: 50 Delicious Sandwiches Hot Off the Press
Although Americans have always been partial to grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches, tastes have matured with exposure first to the French croque monsieur and now to Italian paniniWhat make panini special are both the grill and the bread. Unlike commonplace, white-bread-based cheese toasties, panini start with substantial bread, preferably artisanal ciabatta rolls, focaccia, or baguettes. These are layered with all manner of meats, cheeses, and vegetables in any combination the chef deems tasty. Then the panini toast within a heavy press to thoroughly heat the filling and score the bread with grill marks. An accomplished baker, Leader offers recipes for breads that make foundations for great panini. Fillings include classic combinations, such as turkey, bacon, and cheddar. More adventuresome stuffings run to barbecued chicken, blue cheese, and celery (a riff on buffalo wings) and corned beef, Muenster cheese, and wilted cabbage (cousin to the Reuben). --Mark Knoblauch