Panini’s are traditionally made with ciabatta, rolls or any other type of bread other than sliced sandwich bread. However, in today’s menus you find Panini’s made with sliced bread and what makes today’s Panini’s stand out from other sandwiches is the slight grill marks on top of the bread and the ingredients inside slightly warmed.
These are wonderful sandwiches to make at home because despite what culinary stores may tell you all you really need is a $20 grill pan and not a $120+ Panini maker. Panini’s allow you to have a hot dinner without heating up your house.
Directions
Heat a grill pan on a medium high heat.
Smear the bread with pesto either on one or both sides.
Layer the bread however you like it but make sure the cheese and the spinach both touch bread, because it will be the hottest part of the sandwich and it will make it easier for the spinach to wilt and the brie to melt.
Spray the sandwich bread with nonstick spray and place the sandwich on to the grill pan.
Place a piece of parchment (or you can leave it out) paper on top of the sandwich and then place something heavy on top like another cast iron pan, a brick, etc.
Cook the sandwich for 3-4 minutes and then remove the heavy object and flip the sandwich and cook on the other side for another 3-4 minutes.
Cut in half or quarters and serve.
