Tomato, Mozzarella & Pesto Panini Sandwiches
MAKES 6 SANDWICHES
From Ina Garten's 'Barefoot Contessa At Home'. We love our panini machine! It's a great way to make delicious hot sandwiches for lunch. You can also make dessert sandwiches with slices of brioche bread and good chocolate melted in the middle. Yum. But you can do the same thing by making the sandwiches in a pan on the stovetop. Just place a plate on top of the sandwich and put something heavy, like a brick or heavy can, on the plate. These are super fast & easy!
2 large ripe beefsteak tomatoes
1 (16-ounce) ball fresh mozzarella
12 slices bakery white bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick
about 1 cup prepared pesto (the cheapest I've found is at Costco, back by the refrigerated dips & the cheese)
kosher salt
unsalted butter, at room temperature
Preheat a panini grill machine.
Core the tomatoes and slice the tomatoes and mozzarella 1/4-inch thick.
Place the bread slices on a work surface. Spread each slice evenly with pesto. Place a layer of mozzarella (about 2 slices) on half of the bread and cover with a layer of tomato. (If the tomatoes are large, it will only be one slice.) Sprinkle the tomato with salt. Place the remaining slices of bread, pesto side down,
on top. Spread the top and bottom of each sandwich with softened butter. Grill the sandwiches in batches on the panini grill for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mozzarella starts to ooze. Cut each sandwich in half, and serve warm.