Best 7 Pressed Sandwiches Recipes

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Pressed sandwiches, also known as paninis, are a versatile and delightful culinary creation that can cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy lunch option, a hearty and satisfying dinner, or a creative and flavorful snack, pressed sandwiches offer endless possibilities. From classic grilled cheese to innovative combinations of meats, cheeses, and toppings, the world of pressed sandwiches is an exciting culinary adventure waiting to be explored. In this article, we will unveil some of the best recipes for pressed sandwiches, promising to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

GRILLED CUBAN PORK PRESSED SANDWICHES



Grilled Cuban Pork Pressed Sandwiches image

With pork, ham and cheese, paninis satisfy hearty appetites!

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 lb pork tenderloin, cut crosswise into 4 slices
3 tablespoons olive oil-and-vinegar dressing
2 teaspoons grated lime peel
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
4 slices (1 oz each) provolone cheese (from deli)
4 soft kaiser rolls, split
8 thin slices (1 oz each) baked ham (from deli)
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
3 tablespoons dill pickle relish

Steps:

  • Between pieces of plastic wrap, gently pound pork with flat side of meat mallet until very thin. Place in glass baking dish. In small bowl, mix dressing, lime peel and oregano. Spread over pork; turn pork to coat. Let stand while heating contact grill.
  • Heat closed medium-size contact grill for 5 minutes. Position drip tray to catch drippings. Place pork on grill. Close grill; cook 5 to 6 minutes or until no longer pink in center. Meanwhile, place cheese on cut sides of roll bottoms; top with ham, pleating to fit. Spread mustard and pickle relish on cut sides of bun tops. Place grilled pork on ham; place roll tops, relish sides down, on pork. Press down firmly on tops of sandwiches (sandwiches are thick).
  • Carefully wipe off grill plates; spray with cooking spray. Place sandwiches on grill. Carefully close grill so tops of rolls don't slip off sandwiches. Gently press top of grill until sandwiches are compressed. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until rolls are toasted and cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 430, Carbohydrate 31 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 2 g, Protein 35 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize 1 Sandwich, Sodium 1740 mg, Sugar 3 g, TransFat 1 g

SPANISH STYLE PRESSED HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICHES



Spanish Style Pressed Ham and Cheese Sandwiches image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 11m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

8 slices crusty bread
4 pequillo peppers or 2 whole roasted red peppers, thinly sliced
3/4 pound thinly sliced manchego cheese
1/2 pound sliced serrano ham or prosciutto

Steps:

  • Preheat a grill pan to medium. Build sandwiches of sliced peppers, cheese and ham. Place sammies on grill and press with a foil covered brick or weighted down with a heavy skillet and cook to crust and mark bread and melt cheese, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Cut sandwiches into 3 sections each and serve for a simple starter to any meal.

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.

PRESSED HAM AND PEAR SANDWICHES



Pressed Ham and Pear Sandwiches image

Salty and sweet come together in this warm sandwich - with ham and pear perfectly complemented by melted Gruyere cheese.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Pork Recipes

Time 20m

Yield Makes 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

8 slices rustic bread (1/2 inch thick)
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 ounces Gruyere cheese, very thinly sliced
4 ounces thinly sliced deli ham
2 cups baby arugula
1 pear, such as Anjou or Bosc, cored and thinly sliced
Ground pepper

Steps:

  • Brush one side of each bread slice with oil; spread mustard on other side. Layer half the cheese on mustard side of 4 bread slices and top with ham, arugula, pear, a sprinkle of pepper, and remaining cheese. Sandwich with remaining bread slices, mustard side down.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium. Working in batches if necessary, place sandwiches in skillet and weight with another skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook sandwiches, pressing down firmly with skillet, until bread is golden and cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes per side, flipping once. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 469 g, Fat 19 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 8 g

PRESSED SALAMI SANDWICHES



Pressed Salami Sandwiches image

Weighting the assembled sandwiches helps to soften the bread and compress the layers, so the sandwiches are easier and neater to eat.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Lunch Recipes

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 round or oval loaves country bread (1 pound each), split and hollowed
1 jar (12 ounces) oil-packed roasted red peppers
12 ounces salami, thinly sliced
12 ounces provolone cheese, thinly sliced
2 bunches arugula, (about 6 ounces each), washed well and thick stems removed (about 10 cups)

Steps:

  • Brush cut sides of halved bread loaves with oil from jar of roasted peppers. Dividing evenly, layer bottom bread halves with roasted peppers, salami, cheese, and arugula; top with remaining bread halves.
  • Wrap each sandwich tightly with plastic, and press: Lay wrapped sandwiches on a baking sheet. Position another baking sheet on top, and weight with heavy canned goods or a large skillet. Let stand for one hour, pressing down occasionally with hands.
  • Refrigerate wrapped sandwiches until ready to serve, up to 1 day. To serve, cut into wedges.

PRESSED SANDWICHES



Pressed Sandwiches image

This sandwich is filled with the Italian flavors of the pesto, roasted peppers, eggplant, and summer squash.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Pork Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 cups fresh basil leaves, rinsed and dried
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 red bell pepper (about 7 ounces)
1 small eggplant (about 8 ounces), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 zucchini (about 8 ounces), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 yellow summer squash (about 7 ounces), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 loaves ciabatta (each about 8 by 10 inches), halved horizontally
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/3 pound thinly sliced prosciutto

Steps:

  • Make the pesto: Pulse basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor until combined. With machine running, add 1/2 cup oil in a slow, steady stream. Transfer to a small airtight container, and top with remaining oil. Pesto can be refrigerated overnight.
  • Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. (If you are using a charcoal grill, coals are ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill for just 3 to 4 seconds.) Grill bell pepper, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. Place in a bag, close bag, and steam 15 minutes. Peel pepper, and discard skin.
  • Lightly brush both sides of eggplant, zucchini, and summer squash with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill, flipping once, until golden brown and soft, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
  • Pull out most of the doughy center of bread, and reserve for another use (such as breadcrumbs). Brush inside of each loaf with oil. Spread pesto over bottom half of each loaf. Top one loaf bottom with grilled vegetables and half the mozzarella; top remaining loaf bottom with prosciutto and remaining mozzarella. Sandwich top and bottom of each loaf, and press firmly. Tightly wrap each sandwich in plastic, allowing air to release before sealing. Wrap each in parchment paper, and tie with kitchen string. Place sandwiches in refrigerator, and weigh down with a heavy object (such as a Dutch oven). Refrigerate at least 2 hours (or overnight). Slice, and serve.

TUNA AND ARTICHOKE COOLER-PRESSED SANDWICHES



Tuna and Artichoke Cooler-Pressed Sandwiches image

These tasty sandwiches are best after chilling for several hours, so they're the perfect make-ahead for camping trips.

Provided by Victoria Granof

Categories     Sandwich     No-Cook     Picnic     Kid-Friendly     Quick & Easy     Lunch     Lemon     Basil     Tuna     Artichoke     Summer     Cookie     Sugar Conscious     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher     Small Plates

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 (7-ounce) can Italian tuna in oil, undrained (or chunk light tuna in water, drained and mixed with 1 tablespoon olive oil)
1 (6-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, undrained
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 thin 18-inch baguette, sliced lengthwise, interior crumb removed
6 to 8 whole basil leaves

Steps:

  • 1. In a medium bowl, combine the first four ingredients.
  • 2. Fill the baguette with the mixture, scatter the basil leaves on top.
  • 3. Close the baguette and wrap it tightly in waxed paper, then in aluminum foil.
  • 4. Place the sandwich at the bottom of the cooler so the weight of the other contents compresses the sandwich and allows the juices to soak into the bread.

Tips:

  • Choose the right bread. A good pressed sandwich starts with a sturdy bread that can hold up to the heat and pressure of the press. Some good options include sourdough, ciabatta, or French bread.
  • Use high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the sandwich. Use fresh vegetables, flavorful cheeses, and thinly sliced meats.
  • Don't overcrowd the sandwich. A pressed sandwich should be about 1 inch thick. If you overcrowd it, the ingredients won't cook evenly.
  • Press the sandwich firmly. Use a panini press or a heavy skillet to press the sandwich down. This will help the ingredients meld together and get crispy.
  • Cook the sandwich until it's golden brown and the cheese is melted. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes per side.

Conclusion:

Pressed sandwiches are a delicious and easy way to enjoy a quick and satisfying meal. With a little creativity, you can create endless variations on the classic pressed sandwich. So fire up your panini press or skillet and get started!

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