2008 Woodie Awards
DC Dish
It's not just a sandwich
Mary-Frances Heck, Collegian Columnist
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Arts & Living
Paninis, or pressed sandwiches, are becoming ever more popular on restaurant menus. The diminutive for the Italian word for bread, paninis generally are made from ciabatta bread stuffed with grilled or cured meats, cheeses and vegetables and then pressed between two hot skillets. This Italian invention offers hot, crusty goodness to hungry lunch munchers. With the creation of the panini press, and electric cooking tool, enjoying grilled sandwiches has become quick and convenient.
Paninis are available at The Blue Wall Café where they will grill just about any sandwich on the menu. Sandwich shops like Quizno's toast their sandwiches, which, although not technically a panini, can be equally warm and delicious. Dining halls across campus, like Worcester and Hampshire, offer prepared paninis at lunch and dinner and Franklin has a panini press near its deli bar. While the prepared version is suitable if you are in a rush, coming up with your own variations is sure to be more pleasing. In fact, grilling almost any sandwich adds depth of flavor and may be a more satisfying meal.
There are some basic points you should remember when making a panini. Most paninis are tastier with cheese and tend to hold together better as well. If wilted lettuce and warm tomato are not your preference, you can always add veggies after you have grilled your sandwich. To prevent the sandwich from sticking to the press, and to create an evenly browned crust, you may use olive oil, butter, margarine or cooking spray. Olive oil, although considered heart healthy, may soak into the bread making the final product greasy. Margarine is made from vegetable oil and contains trans fats which are a big no-no if you are health conscious. Butter, while producing the best tasting crust, tends to brown quickly so make sure the press is set on medium heat so your panini does not burn. Cooking spray tends to work well at high temperatures but can be less palatable than butter. Panini is, after all, a fancy word for grilled cheese. Consider unusual fillings like hummus, tuna, peanut butter and jelly or hamburgers (not all together, of course) and breads like tortillas, sub rolls, bagels and English muffins. Feel free to put what ever you want inside and use whatever kind of bread your heart desires outside.
Paninis are available at The Blue Wall Café where they will grill just about any sandwich on the menu. Sandwich shops like Quizno's toast their sandwiches, which, although not technically a panini, can be equally warm and delicious. Dining halls across campus, like Worcester and Hampshire, offer prepared paninis at lunch and dinner and Franklin has a panini press near its deli bar. While the prepared version is suitable if you are in a rush, coming up with your own variations is sure to be more pleasing. In fact, grilling almost any sandwich adds depth of flavor and may be a more satisfying meal.
There are some basic points you should remember when making a panini. Most paninis are tastier with cheese and tend to hold together better as well. If wilted lettuce and warm tomato are not your preference, you can always add veggies after you have grilled your sandwich. To prevent the sandwich from sticking to the press, and to create an evenly browned crust, you may use olive oil, butter, margarine or cooking spray. Olive oil, although considered heart healthy, may soak into the bread making the final product greasy. Margarine is made from vegetable oil and contains trans fats which are a big no-no if you are health conscious. Butter, while producing the best tasting crust, tends to brown quickly so make sure the press is set on medium heat so your panini does not burn. Cooking spray tends to work well at high temperatures but can be less palatable than butter. Panini is, after all, a fancy word for grilled cheese. Consider unusual fillings like hummus, tuna, peanut butter and jelly or hamburgers (not all together, of course) and breads like tortillas, sub rolls, bagels and English muffins. Feel free to put what ever you want inside and use whatever kind of bread your heart desires outside.
Be the first to comment on this story