Gloss How-To: Make a Perfect Panini

If you want to take your traditional sandwich and make it just a little more interesting, you can create a , the ‘panino’ or Italian sandwich (the plural of panino is ‘panini’ – did you know that?). The difference between a panino and a regular sandwich, is that a panino is grilled so that the sandwich ingredients meld together, lending a delicious combination of flavors.

Panini are easy to make, especially if you have a panini press. They can be served as a meal on their own or with salad, soup or as a starter course. Did you ever wonder if there was a trick to making perfect panini?

Well, there are a few.

Tip #1: You don’t need a panini press. If you don’t have the budget or counter space to afford a panini press, you can still whip up a delicious grilled sandwich. Kathy Strahs, the internet’s panini expert, has a great guide to whipping up a perfect panini with anything but a press.

Tip #2: Don’t forget the butter. Or the oil. When you’re making panini, be sure to prepare both sides of the bread for grilling by coating with olive oil or butter. This well lend a golden-brown color to your grilled bread — not to mention extra flavor.

Tip #3: Use the best bread. Since the bread is a key component of panini, many recipes suggest that you use a high-quality (or homemade) country Italian bread. You most certainly can use other breads, such as whole wheat, but be sure that your bread isn’t too soft ust make sure that the bread isn’t too soft, lest it become too “squishy” when it’s grilled.

Tip #4: Use your leftovers. A great way to use up the excess pork from last night’s stir-fry or the leftover mozzarella cheese from your caprese salad is to grill them in between two slices of bread. Panini can be a cost-effective dinner if you create them with the ingredients in your pantry.

(Photo Credit: Panini Happy)