Rejuvenated Rustic Turkey – Artichoke Panini

Debber's Note:

Similar to one of my favorite selections at Panera Bread restaurant--this one will work for lunch as is with a few carrot-sticks on the side OR add a cup of soup or small salad for delicious dinner-time fare. I don't have a panini-maker--so my two large cast-iron frying pans get called into action.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 4 rustic ...

• ¼ cup pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup shallot , sliced
• 1 (8 ounce) jar artichokes , quartered, drained
• 1 loaf focaccia bread
• 8 tablespoons mayonnaise , divided
• 1 bunch fresh spinach , divided
• 1 cup asiago cheese , grated
• 1 lb cooked turkey breast , sliced, divided
• salt & pepper , taste
• 1 dash cayenne chili pepper flakes (optional)
• 8 slices sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil , drained

Directions:

1. Lightly toast pine nuts in cast-iron frying pan or oven; pour nuts into small bowl; set aside to cool.
2. Melt butter in empty pan, sauté shallots, stirring lightly; set aside.
3. Coarsely chop artichokes, then add to shallots in warm pan; set aside.
4. Cut focaccia bread into four equal sandwich portions, then slice horizontally; spread each slice with one tablespoon of mayonnaise.
5. Layer spinach and tomato slices equally on four of the bread slices.
6. Add the grated cheese and toasted pine-nuts to the artichokes-shallot mixture in the pan; quickly divide into four portions and spoon over the spinach and tomatoes.
7. Add one fourth of the turkey breast meat to each of the sandwiches, lightly add salt & pepper and cayenne pepper flakes to taste; put the lid on the sandwich and press lightly.
8. Place sandwiches into panini-maker and heat per manufacturer’s suggestions….OR….place sandwiches into large buttered medium-hot frying pan, place another heavy frying pan on top; then press down firmly to heat sandwich like this for 1-2 minutes.

Reviews

[Chef #985699]

This was delicious!! The only thing I did differently was I combined the spinach and tomatoes with the artichokes. I will definetely make this again.