Best Mozzarella And Pepper Cooler Pressed Sandwiches Recipes

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PRESSED CHEESE SANDWICHES



Pressed Cheese Sandwiches image

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Categories     main-dish

Time P1DT20m

Yield 32 small sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 12

5 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon aleppo pepper
2 cloves garlic, peeled and pressed
8 large slices sourdough rye bread
16 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 16 slices
Coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary
Pickled Scallions, recipe follows
8 scallions, root ends trimmed
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Splash extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon

Steps:

  • I think simple recipes are the best way to start out the meal. Melted cheese, in any form, is something that everyone loves. I find these sandwiches only make people want to eat more afterwards!
  • In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the pressed garlic. Stir to blend.
  • Put 4 slices of the bread on a flat surface. Dry any moisture off the mozzarella cheese and put 4 slices on 4 pieces of bread. Sprinkle with aleppo pepper and drizzle with the garlic and oil mixture. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, to taste. "Flake" the thyme off the stems and onto the cheese. Do the same with the rosemary, but more sparingly.
  • Cover the cheese with the remaining 4 slices of bread and cut each sandwich in half and in half again, to make 4 individual pieces. Arrange them in a single layer on a small baking sheet or large plate and cover them with baking sheet or plate to weigh them down. Refrigerate the sandwiches overnight. This will make them flatter and better integrate the flavors.
  • The next day, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. When the olive oil begins to smoke lightly, add the sandwiches and cook them on 1 side until brown. Turn and cook until brown on the other side. Cook in batches, if necessary. Transfer to a serving platter and season with salt. Top with the pickled scallions and serve immediately.
  • The acidity of the vinegar and the oniony "bite" of the scallion make this a brightening element for my cheese sandwiches. I avoid salt and pepper to keep the focus on the acidity of the scallion.
  • Put the scallions on a cutting board and, using a sharp knife, slice them into thin rounds from the white part all the way through the green part.
  • Add the scallions to a small bowl with the red wine vinegar and the olive oil. Toss to combine and set aside for 1 to 2 hours to allow the vinegar to work its magic. The scallions can be covered and refrigerated overnight, if desired.

PRESSED BROCCOLI RABE AND MOZZARELLA SANDWICHES



Pressed Broccoli Rabe and Mozzarella Sandwiches image

I love these sandwiches. They're a vegetarian cross between a New Orleans-style muffuletta (hey olive salad!) and a Philadelphia-style pork and broccoli rabe sandwich. They're also inspired by a passage I once read about how legendary food writer M. F. K. Fisher made a guest sit on a wrapped sandwich while they chatted so it would be perfectly pressed in time for lunch. Ha! When these sandwiches are pressed, the olive and caper mixture soaks into the bread and the cheese and garlicky broccoli rabe become really good friends. The broccoli rabe can also be served as a side dish with the olive mixture spooned on top (or you can mix the lot with cooked pasta and call it dinner). If you can't find or don't like broccoli rabe, substitute regular broccoli or any dark, leafy green such as kale.

Provided by Julia Turshen

Categories     Sandwich     Dinner     Lunch     Vegetarian     Leafy Green     Broccoli Rabe     Mozzarella     Olive

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 lb [340 g] broccoli rabe (an average bunch), tough stems discarded, roughly chopped
3 Tbsp olive oil
Kosher salt
2 large garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1/4 cup [40 g] green olives, pitted and finely chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp drained brined capers, finely chopped
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
4 individual-size sandwich rolls, split (I like rolls with sesame seeds for this, but you do you)
1 lb [455 g] fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

Steps:

  • Pour water to a depth of 1 in [2.5 cm] into a medium pot and set over high heat. When the water boils, add a large pinch of salt and then the broccoli rabe and cook, stirring, until bright green and slightly wilted, about 30 seconds. Drain the broccoli rabe in a colander, wipe the pot dry, and return it to high heat. Add 2 Tbsp of the olive oil, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes and stir the garlic into the oil until it's fragrant, just 15 seconds. Immediately add the drained broccoli rabe and a large pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until the broccoli rabe is coated with the garlicky oil and is a bit more softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set the broccoli rabe aside to cool down a bit.
  • In a small bowl, combine the olives, capers, vinegar, the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, and a small pinch of salt and stir together. Place the rolls, cut-side up, on a work surface and evenly distribute the olive mixture among the rolls, putting some on both halves of each roll. Divide the mozzarella and broccoli rabe evenly among the rolls, close the rolls, and then tightly wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap. Place something flat and heavy on top of the sandwiches, such as a large cast-iron skillet. Let the sandwiches sit under this weight for at least an hour before eating or putting them in your backpack.

EASY ITALIAN GRILLED SANDWICHES



Easy Italian Grilled Sandwiches image

Assemble this muffuletta-inspired pressed sandwich late-morning, then wrap it in foil and put it under a heavy skillet for at least an hour to let the flavors meld. After a spell on the grill or in the oven to melt the cheese, simply cut and pass the panini around the table.

Provided by Shira Bocar

Categories     Food & Cooking     Lunch Recipes     Sandwich Recipes

Time 1h55m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 loaf ciabatta (1 pound)
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
1/2 cup olive tapenade
4 ounces sliced provolone
8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella (such as Polly-O), thinly sliced
1 cup thinly sliced roasted red peppers
1 jar (12 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
4 ounces thinly sliced spicy salami
2 cups baby arugula

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Split bread horizontally; scoop out soft interior and reserve for croutons or breadcrumbs (see cook's note). Brush inside of each bread half with oil. Bake, cut-side up, until toasted, about 7 minutes. Let cool completely. Spread tapenade on bottom half of bread; add provolone and mozzarella. Top with peppers, artichokes, and salami. Scatter top with arugula. Top with other bread half; press to sandwich.
  • Wrap tightly with foil. Place a heavy skillet on top; weigh down with canned goods. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.
  • Preheat a grill to medium, or oven to 375°F. Transfer wrapped sandwich to grill and cover (or transfer to oven); cook, flipping once, until cheese begins to melt and bread is crisp, about 20 minutes. Remove foil, slice, and serve.

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