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Author:

Kevin Curry

Caprese Panini (Grilled Cheese)

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This is the season of calorie-conscious comfort food and tailgating for football and luckily, I picked up the perfect tool for both. Recently, I picked up the amazing Caprese panini/grill skillet from Kohl’s to test out and I haven’t put it down since.

Playing around with it, I got inspired to make a “grilled cheese” but with a small twist. I used basil, tomato, and balsamic glaze to give it my own twist on a Caprese salad. Also, I used lite safflower mayo instead of butter to make the outer part evenly “creamy and crispy” with each bite. Try it!

First, slice your wheat bun in half. Then, assemble your Caprese panini with balsamic glaze, thinly sliced tomatoes, a layer of fresh basil, and fat-reduced mozzarella. Add the protein of your choice. I used prosciutto, but I believe it would be perfect with chicken too.

Apply mayo on one side of the sandwich and place on a hot grill with mayo faced down. Cook for a couple of minutes, or until golden brown, add the rest of the mayo on the top of the sandwich, and flip to the other side. After roughly 2 minutes, your grilled Caprese is done!

Serve on a plate, cut in half, and enjoy the Caprese sandwich with your favorite game!

LOVE IT. It adds grill marks to just about anything, so you lock in a flavor and make all your food even more appetizing. Plus, I like that you can also toss it on your grill while tailgating for a smoky or BBQ-inspired treat.

This couldn’t be simpler to make! In 15 minutes or less as you need for the recipe, you will feel like you’ve brought the Mediterranean right into your kitchen.

Do you like this sandwich recipe? Let me know what you think and have you already tried it in the comments below.

Show full recipe

Caprese Panini (Grilled Cheese)

Ingredients

* Optional Substitution Note

Ingredients for 1 caprese panini:

  • 1 100-calorie wheat bun
  • 3oz choice of protein (I used about 3 slices of prosciutto and trimmed fat from edges to save a few calories)
  • 2 thin sliced tomatoes (dried on a paper towel to remove excess water)
  • 1.5 oz reduced fat mozzarella
  • 1/8 cup fresh basil (or more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze
  • 1 teaspoon safflower mayo

Utensils: Panini skillet/grill

Steps

Step 1

Assemble the sandwich with protein, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and balsamic glaze.

Step 2

Place the skillet on medium high heat and spray it with olive oil.

Step 3

Spread half of the mayo on one side of the sandwich.

Step 4

When the skillet is hot, place the sandwich on the grill with the mayo side down (so it’s cooking). Allow it to cook for about 2 or 3 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Press down on the sandwich using the panini grill lid.

Step 5

Spread mayo on the other side of the sandwich, and when ready, flip the sandwich over so the other side cooks (roughly same amount of time, maybe a little less time).

Step 6

Remove the sandwich from the grill and enjoy!

Approximate macros for 1 serving

Caprese Panini (Grilled Cheese)

Kevin Curry



Category
Calories 368


Ingredients for 1 caprese panini:

  • 1 100-calorie wheat bun
  • 3oz choice of protein (I used about 3 slices of prosciutto and trimmed fat from edges to save a few calories)
  • 2 thin sliced tomatoes (dried on a paper towel to remove excess water)
  • 1.5 oz reduced fat mozzarella
  • 1/8 cup fresh basil (or more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze
  • 1 teaspoon safflower mayo

Utensils: Panini skillet/grill


  1. Assemble the sandwich with protein, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and balsamic glaze.

  2. Place the skillet on medium high heat and spray it with olive oil.

  3. Spread half of the mayo on one side of the sandwich.

  4. When the skillet is hot, place the sandwich on the grill with the mayo side down (so it’s cooking). Allow it to cook for about 2 or 3 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Press down on the sandwich using the panini grill lid.

  5. Spread mayo on the other side of the sandwich, and when ready, flip the sandwich over so the other side cooks (roughly same amount of time, maybe a little less time).

  6. Remove the sandwich from the grill and enjoy!



Nutrition per serving

Calories368cal
Protein32g
Fats19g
Carbs24g
Fiber2g
Sugar3g
0
(Based on 0 reviews)

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Details

Nutrition per serving

Calories368cal
Protein32g
Fats19g
Carbs24g
Fiber2g
Sugar3g
About Kevin - author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hey, I'm Kevin

My name is Kevin. My life changed when I realized that healthy living is a lifelong journey, mainly won by having a well-balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle.

By experimenting in the kitchen and sharing my meals on Tumblr, I learned healthy eating is not boring! By making a few adjustments to my favorite foods, I could design a diet that could help me achieve my wellness goals while satisfying my desire for BANGIN food! 😅 Now I try to help people around the world realize that same level of freedom in eating regardless of budget. Welcome, let's #DemocratizeWellness together!