Grilled Chicken And Broccoli Pesto Panini Food

GRILLED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• As seen on: Giada in Italy, Episode 3. Poolside Picnic.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium high heat. Add the broccoli and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the cooked broccoli to an ice bath and let it cool, about 3 minutes. Remove from the ice bath and drain well. Transfer the broccoli to a food processor. Add the garlic, walnuts, honey, salt, lemon zest and lemon juice and process until finely chopped. With the machine running gradually pour in the extra-virgin olive oil. Transfer the pesto to a small bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Cover and set aside.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium high heat.
• Grill the slices of bread until toasted and golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Season the chicken cutlets with the salt and pepper flakes and drizzle with the olive oil. Place the cutlets on the grill pan and grill until they are golden brown and are cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Squeeze the lemon juice over the cooked chicken while still on the grill. Remove the chicken to a plate. To assemble the sandwiches, spread about 1 tablespoon of the pesto on each slice of bread. Place 2 pieces of tomato on 4 of the slices. Top the tomato with a chicken cutlet and the remaining slices of bread. Cut in half to serve.
• Cooks Note: The pesto makes more than enough for the sandwiches. It can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

GRILLED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• For the pesto: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast, tossing once, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the cooked broccoli to an ice bath and let cool, about 3 minutes. Remove from the ice bath and drain well. Transfer the broccoli to a food processor. Add the garlic, walnuts, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt and process until finely chopped. With the machine running, gradually pour in the olive oil. Transfer the pesto to a small bowl and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Cover and set aside.
• For the sandwich: Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Grill the bread until toasted and golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Season the chicken cutlets with the pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt and drizzle with the olive oil. Place the cutlets on the grill pan and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Squeeze the lemon juice over the cooked chicken while it is still on the grill pan. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread about 1 tablespoon of the pesto on each slice of bread. Place 2 pieces of tomato on 4 of the slices. Top the tomatoes with the chicken cutlets and the remaining slices of bread. Cut each sandwich in half to serve.
• Cook's Note: The pesto makes more than enough for the sandwiches. It can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

PESTO CHICKEN PANINI

Steps:

• In a plastic bag, combine chicken tenders and 1/4 cup of pesto, set aside and let sit for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup pesto and mayonnaise. Spread mixture on both sides of ciabatta; set aside.
• Preheat an oiled grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill chicken tenders 5 minutes per side. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium and re-oil the grill pan.
• Place cheese on both halves of bread. Add arugula, then tomato, then basil leaves, then pesto chicken to bottom piece. Top with top half of bread. Place onto the grill pan and place a heavy pan on top of the sandwich. Grill for 3 minutes per side or until cheese starts to melt.
• Cut into 4 portions and serve.

GRILLED ITALIAN PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat your George Foreman grill, or panini maker.
• Slice the roll horizontally; spread with pesto.
• When the grill is ready, add the onion and red pepper slices (I didn't think they needed any seasoning, but you could add Italian dressing, or other seasoning to them, before grilling, if desired); grill until tender.
• Layer the grilled veggies, cheese, and lunchmeat.
• Grill until the cheese melts (you'll have to apply some pressure to the top of the grill when you first insert the sandwich, since the sandwich is pretty thick).
• Slice on the diagonal, and enjoy, now or later!

GRILLED CHICKEN PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• Pound the chicken fillets until thin between two pieces of waxed paper, then marinate in oil, garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning for about 1-1/2 hours.
• Heat a grill pan or sauté pan (the breasts can also be grilled on the BBQ).
• Season the breasts with salt and pepper.
• Cook the chicken on medium heat for about 5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
• Remove from pan and place on a plate or board.
• Top each fillet with some of the roasted peppers and a slice of cheese.
• Spread BOTH sides of the bread with pesto sauce.
• Place chicken inside the bread and form to a sandwich.
• Brush both sides of the outside of bread with olive oil.
• Heat a grill pan or a 10-inch skillet on medium high heat. Place the panini in the pan (only 2 at a time).
• Weigh the panini down with another heavy skillet and then top with a heavy can (a very large can of tomato juice works great for this!) cook for about 3 minutes, or until bread is toasted.
• Turn the panini, and weigh it down again with a heavy skillet and a can on top, and toast for another 3 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cut in half.

GRILLED CHICKEN PANINI WITH BASIL-GARLIC MAYO

Steps:

• Combine mayonnaise, basil, garlic, cayenne, and salt for garlic-basil mayo in a food processor; blend until smooth. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to mix.
• Preheat a panini maker.
• Spread garlic-basil mayonnaise to taste on each slice of bread. Assemble sandwich with cheese, chicken, tomato, and spinach. Brush the outside of the sandwich with olive oil.
• Grill in the preheated panini maker until golden brown and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

CHICKEN PESTO PANINIS

Steps:

• Preheat a panini grill.
• Slice each quarter of focaccia bread in half horizontally. Spread each half with pesto. Layer bottom halves with equal amounts chicken, bell pepper, onion, and cheese. Top with remaining focaccia halves, forming 4 sandwiches.
• Grill paninis 5 minutes in the preheated grill, or until focaccia bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

CHICKEN PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• Heat closed contact grill 3 to 5 minutes.
• Cut each piece focaccia in half horizontally. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto on cut sides of each half. Layer bottom halves with one-fourth of the chicken, bell pepper, onion and cheese. Cover with remaining focaccia halves.
• When grill is heated, place sandwiches on grill. Close grill; grill 3to 5 minutes or until focaccia is golden brown and cheese is melted.