Mozzarella Tomato-Basil Panini

May 26th 2010

If you don't know by now I absolutely love my Panini Maker and put it to good use. It is one of the purchases in my kitchen that I can say I use very regularly. This combination of frezh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes in a basil-olive oil sauce is divine. And the great part about these sandwiches is they can be assembled ahead of time and just grilled in time for a party or in the morning for lunch. If you do not have a panini maker, these can be done on the stove top too on a pan.

Difficulty level : Easy

Time:  15 min 

Ingredients

• Mozzarella cheese cut in slices (~ 2 or 3 per panini)
• chopped fresh basil ( 1 or 2 tbsps)
• olive oil ( per liking) - 4 or 5 tbsps
• Tomatoes cut in slices (~ 2 or 3 per panini)
• pepper (optional)
• Bread slices (2 per panini)

Method de Preparation

1. Mix the half the olive oil and the basil in a cup and keep aside.
2. Lightly spread plain olive oil on one side of each bread slice, just a bit.
3. On the same bread slice, on the other side, spread this olive oil and basil mix. So you will have for each panini, two bread slices with plain olive oil on the outside and the olive oil and basil mix on the inside.
4. To assemble each panini,  stack bread, tomato and the mozzarella and the other bread slice. Throw in some fresh ground pepper if you like (optional).
5. And put in the panini maker, assembling your other sandwiches in the meantime.
6. Take out and serve with ketchup or just plain. 
7. This would go nicely with a fresh side salad and you have dinner and if you have any leftovers lunch also taken care of.

Variations: You could use shredded mozzarella but the chewy texture of the slices would be lost.

Vegetarian Burrito

April 28th 2010

Another Tex-Mex entrée, the Mr's favorite - the big and bad Burrito! The main modification to this and others served in restaurants is the fact that I toast/roast the tortilla so that the outer skin is also crispy; unlike usually the tortilla the burrito is made in is soft.  We love the light crispness that comes with warming it up on the pan. So if you prefer it the other way,then don't roast it. 

Before you go further make sure you can open your mouth wide enough and say aahhhhh to be able to eat this, else practice till you can and then proceed!

Difficulty level : Easy

Time: 15 min (prep time), 10 min (making time)

Ingredients 

• Cooked white rice 
• Chopped onions and tomatoes 
• Chopped Cilantro
• Lime
• Vegetarian Refried Beans
• Chopped Spring Onions 
• Store bought flour tortillas
• Mexican Blend cheese (vary per taste)
• Chile con Queso
• Butter (to spread)
• Taco bell sauce (fire, mild, hot)- optional
• Sour cream (optional)
• Guacamole (optional)
• Salsa (optional)

 Method de Preparation

1. Keep all ingredients ready so that you can assemble the burrito quickly.
2. Heat a pan and slight warm tortilla on both sides with a bit of butter, till it is browns a bit.
3. Take tortilla and place on counter. Assemble in center- all the ingredients (beans, rice, veggies, cilantro). Add a spoon of the Chile con Queso and sprinkle some cheese and finally a dash of lemon juice. Add the taco bell sauce here if you like.
4. Keep ingredients in the center and roll the tortilla into a tight burrito. If you don't know how or don't succeed the first time it is OK. But remember to not curse the Qdoba employee who fumbles with your extra large burrito next time you go there. It hapeens to the best of us :P
5. Serve as is or with sour cream and guacamole and some salsa.

Chef's Tip: The next time you eat at taco bell, get some extras of their sauces and keep in the pantry and use when you make your quesadillas and burritos for the authentic Tex-Mex taste :D. Use the Chile con Queso, it is goooooodddddddddd!

Variations:  Skip the tortilla and serve it as a naked burrito. Use pinto or black beans instead of refried beans.

Vegetarian Quesadilla

April 28th 2010

Continuing the Tex-Mex series, this is quick, easy and tasty. You can customize the veggies per liking or just use plain cheese and make a cheese quesadilla. Without further adieu, here is the recipe. 

Difficulty level : Easy

Time: 15 min (prep time), 10 min (making time)

Ingredients

• Store bought flour tortillas
• Chopped Veggies ( I used red peppers and onions) - one can add spinach, green peppers, mushrooms,spring onions etc.
• 1/2 or 1/4 cup Mexican Blend cheese (vary per taste)
• Oil
• Salt
• Butter (to spread)
• Taco bell sauce (fire, mild, hot)- optional
• Sour cream (optional)
• Guacamole (optional)

 Method de Preparation

1. Chop the onions and peppers finely, drizzle some oil and salt and grill in the top rack of the oven on broil setting (low). Watch constantly as it can burn easily. Maybe about  5 min. Keep aside.
2. Slightly grease one side of the flour tortilla with butter and heat on the pan, repeat on both sides.
3. When slightly browning on one side, layer with cheese and then veggies and maybe one more layer of cheese, depending on your cholesterol level and then fold in a semi-circle and grill well, till cheese melts and both sides brown well.
4. Remove and cut in triangles and serve with sour cream, guacamole and salsa.

Chef's Tip: The next time you eat at taco bell, get some extras of their sauces and keep in the pantry and use when you make your quesadillas and burritos for the authentic Tex-Mex taste :D

Southwest Black Bean Panini

March 31st 2010

Making a burger patty from scratch is not a bad idea but time consuming I bet. So one of these weekday nights when you want to make a quick meal, our friend Ms. Panini Maker comes in so handy. This burger is extremely good and very filling and we absolutely love it. This can make for a great lunch box sandwich too. Try it and see.

Difficulty level : Easy

Time:  20 min 

Ingredients

• Morningstar Southwest Spicy Vegetarian Black Bean Burgers ( I get mine from Costco)
• Oroweat Oat N Nut bread ( 2 per burger)
• Cheese slices ( 1 per burger- can be american, pepper jack or your pick)
• Onions ( sliced in circles or squares or rectangles, I don't really care) 
• Tomatoes slices ( 2 per burger)
• Oil ( to brush the bread slices)

Method de Preparation

1. Cook patties in the oven as per instruction, flipping them over halfway so each side is done evenly.
2. Lightly spread oil on both sides of each bread slice, just a bit.
3. To assemble each burger, stack bread, onion and tomato, patty and cheese and the other bread slice.
4. And put in the panini maker, do your 2 times tables till 16 and you are done :)
5. Take out and serve with ketchup or just plain. 
6. Chips and Coke on the side would be nice, so if you plan ahead, get them too!

Variations:   You can skip the onions and the tomatoes and just do cheese+patty and you will still love it. If you like your burgers creamy, add mayo on one side of the bread. You can use any bread but the Oat N Nut has a crunchy texture to it that blends well.