Pressed Sandwich Food

PRESSED PICNIC SANDWICHES RECIPE

Steps:

• Use a round boule bread loaf, and a small serrated knife and cut the boulle around the side evenly.
• Rotate the loaf of bread, and cut the boule loaf in half removing the top from the bottom.
• Use your fingers and scoop out the bread from the top and bottom of the boule.
• Leave about a 1/2 inch rim around the top and bottom of the bread shells to allow the filling to be pressed flat inside the bread loaf and stay inside.
• In a small bowl, mix the olives (or olive tapenade), pepperoncinis, parsley, olive oil, vinegar, capers, and black pepper. Spread 1 cup of the olive mixture on the bread bottom.
• Next, layer all the sandwich ingredients: cheese, deli meats, spinach/lettuce spreads or toppings you like. Add the rest of the olive mixture if you have any left.
• Place the bread tops of the boulle loaf back on, and press gently down. Use plastic wrap to tightly wrap the sandwich. Wrap sandwich tightly a couple times, and cover completely.
• Place the sandwich between two baking sheets and weigh it down with some heavy objects like a large can, containers of juice, or a heavy skillet to press down the sandwich. The reason you want to do this is so it all holds together neatly in a "one hand" hold at the picnic!
• Keep in the refrigerator at least couple of hours, overnight is better as it has time to press and the flavors are better the next day.
• Use a serrated knife to cut the sandwich into 8 wedges.
• Serve with side salads like easy pasta salad, macaroni salad and cut watermelon.

STEAK AND HORSERADISH PRESSED SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place the flank steak in a casserole dish or baking pan. Drizzle with the Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Rub this mixture all over both sides of the flank steak and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat a grill pan for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together the mayonnaise, horseradish and whole-grain mustard in a small bowl. Set aside.
• When the grill is hot, cook the flank steak until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of the steak reads 125 degrees F for medium rare, about 6 minutes per side. (Leave the grill pan over the heat.) Let the steak rest 15 minutes before slicing very thinly across the grain.
• Drizzle the onion slices with the remaining tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the onion on both sides to char and soften, about 2 minutes per side. (Turn down the heat if they char too quickly.) Transfer to a bowl. Check seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if necessary. Cover with plastic wrap to continue softening.
• Slice the bread loaf in half horizontally and lay the two halves cut-side up. Pull out some of the bread from both halves (reserve for another use), leaving a 1/4-inch border. Spread the horseradish mayonnaise on both halves. Layer half of the arugula, then the onion and the steak on the bottom half of the loaf and season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes, remaining arugula, more salt and pepper and top half of the loaf. Wrap tightly in parchment, wax paper or plastic wrap and tie with twine if necessary. Press 3 hours with a brick (see Cook's Note) or cast-iron skillet on top to flatten the sandwich, refrigerated. About 45 minutes before serving, bring the sandwich to room temperature.

CHEESY PRESSED SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray generously with the olive oil spray.
• Split the focaccia horizontally and cut into 4 sandwich bread-size portions. Put the bottom of each sandwich cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet. To each piece of focaccia, add 1/3 cup each of the Cheddar, chicken, asparagus, potatoes and mozzarella, then top with 1 slice Gouda. Top with the remaining slices of focaccia.
• Spray the tops of the bread generously with the olive oil spray and cover with a sheet of foil. Put a baking sheet on top and weigh it down with a cast-iron skillet. Bake until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden, about 20 minutes.

PRESSED PICNIC SANDWICH

Steps:

• Heat grill to (or a grill pan over) high, or preheat broiler. Cook peppers (on a rimmed baking sheet, if using broiler), turning frequently so all sides cook evenly, until completely charred, 10 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer peppers to a bowl, and cover with plastic. Set aside until skins loosen and peppers are cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Using your hands, rub off charred skin, rinsing your hands frequently under cold running water. Pat peppers dry. Slice peppers in half, remove seeds and stems, and cut flesh into 1-inch-wide strips.
• In a medium bowl, combine Dijon and vinegar. Gradually whisk in oil, followed by water. Season to taste with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Slice bread horizontally and scoop out soft interior (reserve for another use). Spread olive paste on bottom crust, then add peppers. Crumble goat cheese on top of peppers. Arrange artichokes over goat cheese. Drizzle half the vinaigrette (about 1/4 cup) on top. Arrange prosciutto and salami over artichokes. Scatter herbs over meats. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette (1/4 cup) over inside of top crust, then place top crust on sandwich.
• Wrap sandwich tightly with plastic. Set a weight, such as a brick or large cast-iron skillet, on top at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours. When ready to serve, slice sandwich horizontally into 6 to 8 pieces.

PRESSED CUBAN SANDWICH WITH GARLIC DIJON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• To make butter:.
• Remove white papery skin from garlic head (do not peel or separate cloves); drizzle with oil. Wrap 1/2 head in foil. Bake at 350° for 1 hour; cool 10 minutes. Separate cloves; squeeze to extract garlic pulp. Discard skins. Combine garlic pulp, mustard, and butter in a small bowl; set aside.
• Double this and save the butter to make more sandwiches later!
• To make sandwiches:.
• Scoop out inside of the roll halves, leaving a 1/2" shell. Spread about 2 teaspoons garlic butter over cut sides of top and bottom halves of each roll. Arrange pickles, turkey, ham, and cheese evenly on bottom halves of rolls; top with top halves.
• Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add 2 sandwiches to pan. Place a heavy skillet on top of sandwiches, and press gently to flatten. Grill 4 minutes on each side or until cheese melts and bread is toasted. Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally, and serve immediately.