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    Home » Recipes

    Caprese Panini

    August 22, 2014 • Updated: July 17, 2021 • by Renée • This post may contain affiliate links.

    It's that time of year! The tomatoes are ripe, the basil is lush, and a freshly-pressed panini sounds like the perfect meal.

    Make Panini Without a Press | The Good Hearted Woman

    However, if you are like me, you might not have a Panini Press just sitting around. They are expensive, they take up a boatload of room, and they don't do a whole lot beside grill panini. (OK, I know. They can do lots of things. George Forman. Cuisanart.

    Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've owned them both at one time. But really, eleven months out of twelve, they are just big space hogs.)  Besides, there are any number of easy alternatives if you just think just a little outside the box pan.

    Caprese Panini |The Good Hearted Woman

    To make a perfect caprese panini, you will need sliced mozzarella, fresh basil, and some kind of hearty bread (sourdough works nicely). And FRESH tomatoes! (I picked these beautiful romas up at the Hillsboro Tuesday Market this week, from Flamingo Ridge Farms.)  I like to add a little basil pesto too, but this is completely optional.

    Caprese Panini |The Good Hearted Woman

    Layering cheese on both sides protects your panini from "tomato leakage."

    Caprese Panini |The Good Hearted Woman

    Now comes the fun part: pick your pressing method. My favorite is the waffle iron, but only because it is so unique - people don't expect it. The easiest method is to grill it on a flat griddle. When I use a flat griddle, I do two to four sandwiches at a time and use a Pyrex baking dish to weight them down. Of course, unlike a real panini press, you have to flip the sandwiches halfway through the process.

    Make Panini Without a Press | The Good Hearted Woman

    Results (left to right): Skillet, grilling pan, waffle iron.

    Caprese Panini |The Good Hearted Woman

    What are some of your favorite cooking hacks?

    « Hike to Witch's Castle | Forest Park, Portland, Oregon
    Oregon Heritage Farms (Hillsboro, Oregon) »
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    About Renée

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    Comments

    1. Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says

      August 24, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      YUM! Although, I do have to confess: we use our panini maker all the time (for grilled cheese sandwiches, especially) and it was inexpensive and slides away neatly into a small space in one cupboard. But I love your idea -- it's genius for those without a panini maker!

      Reply
    2. Pech says

      August 23, 2014 at 6:08 am

      Don't you love tomato season on Portland! Thanks for another idea of a way to enjoy the current tomato bounty!

      Reply

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