G is for: GRILLED TUSCAN SANDWICH
Servings: 4
Total Time to Complete Recipe: 35 min
Active cook/prep time: 35 min
Special Equipment Needed: Panini grill, heavy skillet, or similar
Many years ago, when making my absolutely-hands-down-favorite Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, I had an itch to add to the meal by adding a nice grilled cheese sandwich. I searched high and lo and in my searching stumbled across the recipe that inspired this. So easy and simple, yet things being done I'd never thought of before (pesto flavored mayo) that add such a punch to this amazing sandwich. It is very quick to throw together (minus having to grill the chicken yourself if you didn't buy it pre-grilled) and it is very impressive for others who think you're super special by putting it all together (to which you modestly say, "Oh no, it's nothing really").
It's quite a filling sanwich. Half a piece and a handful of kettle chips tops it off just right. Enjoy!
TIPS & TRICKS
- Please use mayo and not Miracle Whip or other substitutes. Please. I beg you. Don't think about calories.
- Can I ask please again, that you try really hard to use fresh/soft mozzarella and not the hard balls? I think both have their place in recipes, and in this one - you want a fresh soft ball that melts oozy gooey easy.
- For your chicken, you can grill it yourself (I grill it on the stove top with a little salt and pepper), or you can buy it pre-grilled and sliced (usually in the produce or lunch-meat section of your grocer), or you could probably even use a high-quality oven roasted (thick cut) chicken from the deli counter.
- I like to prep all ingredients and have them out prior to starting. Otherwise your just back tracking in the kitchen and taking a lot longer to make this than needed.
- You could use a number of methods to grill this sandwich, including an outdoor grill. I have an indoor grill that makes pretty little lines on my sandwiches, so I use that (someday I'll get a real panini grill!), but really you could use anything.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
2 Tbs Pesto
8 Large Slices of Round Italian or Sourdough Bread, or Ciabatta bread split lengthwise
Softened Butter or Olive Oil for grilling
2 Chicken Breasts, grilled and sliced thin on the grain
1/4 Cup Canned Artichoke Hearts, chopped
1/4 Cup Sundried Tomatoes (packed in oil), sliced
4 Slices of Fresh Mozzarella
DIRECTIONS
- In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and pesto.
- Spread pesto-mayo mixture onto up-side of each piece of bread.
- Then on four of the pieces, layer a thin layer of each (in order): chicken, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, and mozarella.
- Place remaining four pieces of bread, pesto-mayo side down, on the sandwiches.
- Brush outter (plain) sides of bread with butter or olive oil, and grill over medium heat until golden. Flip (carefully) and grill until other side is golden, pressing down to slightly flatten sandwich and help cheese melt things together.
Posted by Shanan at 2/20/2010 12:21 AM 
Categories: .Sandwiches, .Main Course
Tags: Grill Sandwich Poultry Italian Main Course
Categories: .Sandwiches, .Main Course
Tags: Grill Sandwich Poultry Italian Main Course
I miss these!!!!! :(
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This is so yummy and delicious! I have been dreaming of it ever since Friday. I told Mike about it and he really wants me to make it for the family. I want another one so bad that I think I will make it for my family! But I need the recipe posted!
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This was YUMMY! And so easy to make! We made it a few times and one sandwich is enough to feed two people.
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This looks amazing! Have you posted it to the Grilled Cheese Academy yet? http://www.grilledcheeseacademy.com/
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Oh, what a fun site Amanda! Thank you for introducing it to me!
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