Best Grilled Vegetable Panini With Herbed Feta Spread Recipes

Grilled Vegetable Panini image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 30m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/4 cup olive oil
2 small Japanese eggplants or 1 medium to large regular eggplant, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 zucchini, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 baguettes (each about 2 feet long)
1/2 cup Basil Pesto, recipe follows
8 ounces fresh water-packed mozzarella cheese, drained, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup roasted red peppers
8 large basil leaves, optional

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

Grilled Vegetable and Mozzarella Panini image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 4 panini

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 sweet red pepper, spilt and seeded, cut each half into thirds
1 green zucchini, about 1/3 pound, cut into long slices
1 Asian eggplant, about 1/3 pound, cut into long strips
4 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 thin ficelle or baguette french bread
1 pound fresh mozzarella or fontina cheese, sliced into thin even slices
1/4 cup basil leaves
Balsamic vinegar
Fresh herbs

Steps:

Brush the vegetables lightly with oil, season with salt and pepper and grill over medium high heat. Allow the vegetables to color well, remove from the grill and cool for several minutes. remove any blackened skin from the peppers.
Meanwhile, slice the bread open lengthwise and brush the inside lightly with oil. Grill the inside of the bread quickly and remove.
Assemble the still warm sandwich by alternating layers of vegetables, cheese, basil and then sprinkle on any remaining oil and a few drops of vinegar. Sprinkle on any herbs desired, tightly wrap with sandwich paper and slice into 4-inch lengths.

Grilled Vegetable Panini image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 medium eggplant, sliced on the bias into 1/4-inch strips
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1 green bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, sliced in 8 pieces
1 medium yellow squash, sliced on the bias into 1/4-inch strips
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup green olives, finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1 French baguet

Steps:

Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Brush the sliced vegetables with 1/4 cup canola oil. Season with salt and pepper and place on the grill. Cook until they have slightly charred and softened slightly, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a baking sheet.
In a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, Italian seasoning, vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup canola oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle half of the dressing over the grilled vegetables. Stir the chopped olives into the remaining dressing.
Cut the bread into 4 equal pieces and slice open. Spread the olive dressing evenly on 4 bottom pieces of the bread. Top with a single layer of each of the vegetables, reserving the remaining vegetables for Round 2 Recipe Ratatouille Pasta. Sprinkle the cheese over each and place the remaining 4 bread pieces on top. Place in a panini press and cook until well toasted, about 5 minutes. (Or place on a well-oiled grill pan and place a heavy hot cast-iron skillet or griddle on top of the sandwiches, and grill until the bread is well toasted, about 5 minutes per side.)