Monster Muenster Panini

Panini and grilled cheese sandwiches are nothing new but for some reason you rarely, if ever, see Muenster cheese used on them. Muenster cheese reminds me of Germany which makes me happy. Combine that with caramelized onions, roast beef, pastrami and a homemade ’1000 island‘ style dressing instead of the sugary store bought kind on toasted buttery sourdough and you’re talking about a seriously delicious sandwich

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Thousand Island Sandwich Dressing

• 3⁄4 cup mayonnaise
• 1⁄4 cup sour cream
• 3⁄4 cup ketchup
• 1  teaspoon  dill relish
• 1  teaspoon  sweet pickle relish
• 1  teaspoon  dried onion flakes
• 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  balsamic vinegar
• 3 -4  good shakes Tabasco sauce
•  fresh ground black pepper, to taste

• Panini

• 8  slices  sourdough  sandwich bread, good quality
• 4  ounces  thousand island dressing (see recipe above)
• 4  ounces aioli or 4  ounces mayonnaise
• 8  slices muenster cheese, sliced
• 8  ounces  rare roast beef, sliced thinly
• 8  ounces  pastrami, sliced thinly
•  dill pickle, as desired
• 4  ounces  caramelized onions
•  unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Sandwich dressing.
2. In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, relishes, onion, garlic, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, Tabasco, and black pepper to taste. Mix well! Makes about 2 cups dressing.
3. Assemble the sandwich.
4. For each Panini: on one slice of bread, spread sandwich dressing, while on the other, spread aioli or mayo. Layer Muenster cheese, roast beef, and pastrami, then top with pickles and caramelized onions. Close the sandwich. Brush outer sides of sandwich generously with melted Unsalted Tillamook Butter. Press on Panini grill or toast in pan or on flattop grill. Serve with garlic parmesan fries, sweet potato fries or small side salad.