Best 8 Eggplant Panini Recipes

GRILLED EGGPLANT PANINI WITH BASIL AIOLI

Steps:

• For aioli, place the first 8 ingredients in a blender; cover and process until smooth. , Brush vegetables with oil. Place in broiling pan and broil 3-4 inches from heat, or grill, covered, over medium heat until tender, 4-5 minutes per side. Chop the peppers when cool enough to handle. , Spread cut sides of each roll with 2 tablespoons aioli; top each with cheese. Layer bottoms with eggplant and peppers. Replace tops., In a panini press, grill sandwiches until cheese is melted, 5-7 minutes. Serve remaining aioli with sandwiches or save for another use.

PORTOBELLO, EGGPLANT, AND ROASTED RED PEPPER PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Cut peppers in half from top to bottom; remove the stem, seeds, and ribs, then place the peppers cut-sides down onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Cook peppers under the preheated broiler until the skin has blackened and blistered, about 5 minutes.
• While peppers are cooking, place portobello mushroom caps into a resealable plastic bag. Pour in balsamic vinaigrette, squeeze out excess air, and seal. Marinate in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Remove blackened peppers from the oven, transfer to a bowl, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Once cool, remove and discard skins. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
• The following day, preheat an electric double-sided grill (such as George Foreman®) according to manufacturers' directions. Sprinkle eggplant slices with garlic powder and onion powder.
• Remove portobello mushrooms from the marinade, and discard the remaining marinade. Cook on the preheated grill until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Cook eggplant slices on the preheated grill until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove, set onto a plate, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread all 8 slices of focaccia bread with a thin layer of ranch dressing. Layer 1/2 of the bread slices with a slice of Swiss cheese, an eggplant slice, a roasted pepper half, a portobello mushroom cap, and a slice of Asiago cheese. Top with the remaining bread.
• Spray the double-sided grill with cooking spray, and cook the sandwiches until the cheese has melted, the sandwiches are hot in the center, and the bread is golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PANINI WITH BASIL AIOLI RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat grill or oven to medium heat, about 350°F. If using oven, place rack 3 to 4 inches from heat. For basil aioli, place mayonnaise, basil, Parmesan, chives, salt and pepper in a blender; cover, and process until smooth. Set aside. Brush eggplant and peppers with oil. Roast 3 to 4 inches from broiler or on a covered grill until tender, 4 to 5 minutes per side. When cool enough to handle, chop peppers. Set vegetables aside. Spread cut sides of each Ciabatta roll with 2 tablespoons basil aioli. Top each with 1 slice of cheese. Layer bottom halves of rolls with eggplant and peppers and replace tops. In a Panini press or on the grill, cook the sandwiches until cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve with remaining aioli on the side. Refrigerate leftover aioli for later use.

ARTICHOKE AND EGGPLANT PANINI

Steps:

• Prepare a gas grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-high heat; see grilling procedure .
• Pulse artichokes, mayonnaise, capers, and garlic in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
• Trim off a thin slice from 2 opposite long sides of eggplant, then cut eggplant lengthwise into 4 (1/3-inch-thick) slices. Brush both sides of slices with 2 tablespoons oil (total) and season with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
• Grill eggplant slices, covered, turning once and brushing grilled sides with 1 tablespoon oil (total), until golden-brown and tender, about 4 minutes, then transfer to a tray.
• Brush both sides of bread with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and grill, covered, without turning, until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes.
• Top each of 4 bread slices, grilled sides up, with cheese and an eggplant slice. Spread artichoke mixture on remaining 4 bread slices, grilled sides up, then assemble sandwiches.
• Put sandwiches on grill and press down with a metal spatula, then grill, turning once, until heated through and grill marks appear, about 4 minutes total.

EGGPLANT PANINI

Steps:

• Season eggplant slices with salt and pepper; let stand for 2 minutes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; saute 1/2 of the eggplant until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining olive oil and eggplant.
• Preheat a panini press according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Layer eggplant, roasted red pepper, and mozzarella cheese, respectively, onto the bottom piece of each flat bread. Spread 1 tablespoon hummus on the inside of each top piece of flat bread and place over the mozzarella layer, creating a panini.
• Grill each panini on the preheated panini press until cooked through and cheese is melted, about 7 minutes.

EGGPLANT, RED PEPPER, AND FONTINA PANINI WITH SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Brush panini press, panini pan, or grill rack with oil; heat press, pan, or barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush eggplant rounds and pepper strips with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill eggplant until tender, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Working in batches, grill bell peppers until tender, turning occasionally and flattening with back of spatula for even cooking, about 6 minutes. Place 8 eggplant rounds and 8 bell pepper strips on rimmed baking sheet. Place remaining eggplant and peppers on work surface and slice thinly; reserve for salad.
• Place 4 bread slices on work surface. Divide half of Fontina cheese among bread slices; top each with 2 eggplant rounds, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon basil, and 1 teaspoon oregano. Top each with 2 bell pepper strips. Arrange remaining Fontina cheese atop peppers, then top with remaining bread slices, pressing to compact. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover with plastic and let stand at room temperature.
• Heat panini press, panini pan, or barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush press or pan with oil (if using barbecue, lightly brush bread slices with oil). Place sandwiches in press or pan or on grill; cover and cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, whisk 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar in large bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add spinach, thinly sliced eggplant, and thinly sliced peppers; toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut sandwiches in half. Serve with spinach salad.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PANINI WITH CAMBOZOLA BLUE CHEESE, PROSCIUTTO AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Heat grill pan to medium-high.
• Heat the olive oil in small pot over medium heat with garlic and rosemary to infuse flavor, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Brush eggplant with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, grill 2 to 3 minutes on each side to tenderize. Remove from heat.
• Make sandwiches on split flat breads of 2 slices each eggplant, blue cheese, prosciutto and a handful of arugula.
• Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Choose a second skillet that can fit down inside the first and get a few heavy cans ready to weight skillets. When pan is hot, add 1 flat bread, weight down with second skillet and cans and cook 1 minute, flip, cook a minute more. Repeat process with remaining ingredients and serve.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PANINI

Steps:

• 1. Preheat grill to medium-high. 2. Combine mayonnaise and basil in a small bowl. Using 1 tablespoon oil, lightly brush both sides of eggplant and sprinkle each slice with garlic salt. With the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, brush one side of each slice of bread. 3. Grill the eggplant for 6 minutes, turn with a spatula, top with cheese, and continue grilling until the cheese is melted and the eggplant is tender, about 4 minutes more. Toast the bread on the grill, 1 to 2 minutes per side. 4. To assemble sandwiches: Spread basil mayonnaise on four slices of bread. Top with the cheesy eggplant, red peppers, onion and the remaining slices of bread. Cut in half and serve warm.