Best Easy Vegetable Paninis Recipes

GRILLED VEGETABLE PANINI

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle the oil over the eggplant, zucchini, and onion slices, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the eggplant, zucchini, and onions until they are tender and grill marks appear, about 4 minutes per side. Cool completely.
• Cut each baguette into 6 pieces. Working with one baguette piece at a time, slice in half and spread both sides with the pesto. Working with the bottom slice of the baguette, stack 2 slices of eggplant, 2 slices zucchini, 1 slice onion, 1 slice tomato, 1 slice mozzarella, and 1 slice of roasted pepper. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place top half of baguette on top and continue with remaining baguette. (The sandwiches can be made 4 hours ahead. Wrap well with plastic wrap and refrigerate.)
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup (about) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• In a blender, pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper until finely chopped. With the blender still running, gradually add enough oil to form a smooth and thick consistency. Transfer the pesto to a medium bowl and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese. Season the pesto with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The pesto can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Yield: 1 cup
• Prep Time: 10 minutes

EASY VEGETABLE PANINIS

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add mushroom slices and cook 6-7 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Spray one side of 4 slices of bread with nonstick cooking spray. Place bread slices, sprayed side down, on work surface. Layer each slice of bread with 1 slice cheese and equal portions of mushrooms, onions, spinach and red peppers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with 1 more slice of cheese. Spray one side of remaining 4 bread slices with cooking spray, then place sprayed side up over fillings.
• Preheat grill pan over medium heat. Cook sandwiches 3-4 minutes per side or until bread is golden brown and cheese melts, weighing them down with a heavy skillet or pressing down with large spatula. Cut sandwiches in half diagonally to serve.

SKINNY CHICKEN AND ROASTED VEGETABLE PANINIS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450° F. Line 2 cookie sheets with foil, and spray with cooking spray.
• In small bowl, mix salt, olive oil and vinegar.
• Using pastry brush, brush zucchini and onion with vinegar mixture; reserve remaining mixture. Place zucchini and onion in single layer on 1 of the cookie sheets. Place tomatoes on second cookie sheet. Roast 25 to 30 minutes, turning once, until zucchini and onions are golden brown and tomatoes give up most of their juices, rotating pans halfway through baking.
• Meanwhile, roast bell pepper over open gas flame (or under broiler) until blackened on all sides. Transfer to medium bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let steam 5 minutes, then transfer to cutting board. Cut off top of bell pepper, then use sharp knife to scrape blackened skin from flesh. Cut flesh into 1-inch strips.
• Spray panini grill with cooking spray; heat to medium-high heat.
• Divide vegetables between 2 slices of bread. Brush remaining vinegar mixture over veggies. Top with chicken, basil, then cheese. Top with second slice of bread. Place sandwiches in panini grill; grill 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread is thoroughly toasted.