Picnic Mediterranean Sandwich Recipe 455 Food

GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Brush eggplant and red bell peppers with 1 tablespoon olive oil; use more if necessary, depending on sizes of vegetables. Place on a baking sheet and roast in preheated oven. Roast eggplant until tender, about 25 minutes; roast peppers until blackened. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook and stir mushrooms until tender. Stir crushed garlic into mayonnaise. Slice focaccia in half lengthwise. Spread mayonnaise mixture on one or both halves.
• Peel cooled peppers, core, and slice. Arrange eggplant, peppers and mushrooms on focaccia. Wrap sandwich in plastic wrap; place a cutting board on top of it and weight it down with some canned foods. Allow sandwich to sit for 2 hours before slicing and serving.

CAPONATA PICNIC SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and saute until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and saute until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Season with salt. Add the red pepper and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes with their juices, raisins, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer over medium-low heat until the flavors blend and the mixture thickens, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar, and capers. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Cut the bread pieces horizontally in half. Grill the bread cut-side down on a grill pan over medium-high heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Rub the whole garlic cloves over the toasted side of the bread. Add a slice of mozzarella to bread bottom, spoon the caponata on top, cover with the other bread half, and serve.
• To take for a picnic: Wrap the sandwiches separately in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Chill until ready to serve, or keep at room temperature up to 1 hour.

MEDITERRANEAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• SANDWICH SPREAD: Set out two slices of bread. Spread one side of one slice with the pesto. In a small bowl, stir together the mayo and sriracha (add slowly and to heat preference). Spread this mayo on the other slice of bread on one side.
• FILLING: Gently press the baby spinach on top of the mayo and Sriracha to secure it in place. Gently press the thinly sliced red onion strips on the side with pesto to secure in place. Sprinkle the feta cheese on top of the red onion and gently press it in. Remember this melts down a bit, so don't skimp! Add the thinly sliced tomatoes on top along with a tiny sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add the well-drained red pepper strips on top. Bring the sandwich piece with the spinach on top of the other.
• COOK: Add sandwich to a panini press or electric grill. Alternatively, add to a dry skillet. For the electric grill: close the lid and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the bread is fully toasted with defined char marks and the cheese is melted. For a panini press: Add the sandwich and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions until golden and cheese is melted, about 3 to 5 minutes. In a skillet: Preheat a dry skillet to medium low. Add the sandwich, then set a pan on top to weigh it down. Cook for 2-3 minutes, flip and cook another 2-3 minutes.

PRESSED PICNIC SANDWICH

Steps:

• Ask an adult to slice the ciabatta loaf in half lengthways and heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Put the ciabatta loaf halves, crust-side down, on a large baking tray and drizzle with a little olive oil. Pop them in the oven for a few mins until just golden and lightly toasted.
• Put the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and mustard in a bowl, then whisk them together with a fork.
• Remove the toasted ciabatta halves from the tray and drizzle the bottom slice with about half of the dressing.
• Arrange the rest of the ingredients in layers. Start with a large handful of baby spinach, then a few artichoke hearts.
• Next add the slices of pepper, the prosciutto, basil, mozzarella and, finally, the red onion.
• Drizzle over the rest of the dressing and pop the other slice of ciabatta on top.
• Press down on the sandwich to squash all the layers together.
• Wrap the sandwich in baking parchment and tie it together with a couple of pieces of string.
• Place a heavy baking tray on top of your sandwich and top it with weights or loaf tins filled with baking beans. Pop it all in the fridge overnight or until you are ready to eat it. Cut and serve in slices for the perfect picnic snack.