Caprese Panini (Pressed Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Sandwich)
By Joe
Source: America's Test Kitchen.
Ciabatta rubbed with garlic, brushed with olive oil outside and filled with fresh mozzarella, blotted tomato and basil, then pressed in a pan until golden and melting. Ready in under 20 minutes.
Always check the labels of the products you use.
Method
- 1
Prep the filling. Lay the tomato slices on kitchen paper for 5 min and pat the mozzarella dry; removing excess moisture keeps the bread crisp. Rub one side of each bread slice with the cut garlic and brush the other side with oil.
- 2
Build. On the unoiled side of two slices, layer half the mozzarella, then the tomato seasoned with pepper, the basil and the rest of the cheese. Top with the remaining slices, oiled side up.
- 3
Press and toast. Put the sandwiches in the cold pan, weigh them down with the saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 4 min until deeply golden. Flip, press again and cook for 2-3 min more until the cheese has melted.
- 4
Rest and serve. Leave for 2 min so the melted cheese sets slightly, then cut in half and serve warm.
Storage
Best eaten hot. Assemble up to 2 hours ahead, cover and chill, then toast just before serving. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).
EU nutrition claims
- Source of protein: 4.2 g protein per 100 kcal, about 17% of energy (needs ≥ 12%)
- Low sugars: 4.1 g sugars per 100 g (limit ≤ 5 g)
Per 100 g of the finished dish, worked out from the nutrition per serving and the lowest likely cooked weight (about 162 g a serving), so the true values are, if anything, lower. Thresholds from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide
Free sugars
3.5 g per serving
7 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 14 % of the ideal 25 g
Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO
Equipment
- kitchen paper
- pastry brush
- large non-stick frying pan or panini press
- heavy saucepan or second pan to press
- spatula
Nutrition per serving Calculated from USDA FoodData Central
| Per serving | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 543 kcal |
| Protein | 22.6 g |
| Carbohydrate | 44.9 g |
| of which sugars | 6.7 g |
| of which free sugars | 3.5 g |
| Fat | 30.9 g |
| of which saturates | 12 g |
| Fibre | 3 g |
| Salt | 2.25 g |
Protein per 100 kcal
4.2 g High protein needs ≥ 5 g per 100 kcal (20% of energy) and ≥ 10 g per serving
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values
