Make-Ahead Smoked Turkey and Grilled Onion Panini

smoked turkey and grilled onion panini on cutting board
Photo: Jason Donnelly
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
4 mins
Total Time:
29 mins
Servings:
6

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 4 0.5 inch slices red onion

  • 2 tablespoon bottled light Italian vinaigrette salad dressing

  • 6 multigrain thin sandwich rolls

  • 12 ounce thinly sliced smoked turkey

  • 6 slices reduced-fat provolone or mozzarella cheese (3 ounces)

Directions

  1. Coat a grill pan with cooking spray; heat pan over medium heat. Add onion slices; cook about 8 minutes or until tender and lightly charred, turning once.* Separate onion slices into rings. In a small bowl toss together onion rings and Italian vinaigrette; cool.

  2. Fill rolls with turkey, onion rings, and cheese. Wrap each tightly with plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag; seal and freeze for up to 3 months.

  3. To serve, remove desired number of sandwiches from freezer bags and unwrap. Thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes.

  4. Coat a panini press or covered indoor grill with cooking spray; preheat press. Place sandwich(es) in panini press. Cover and cook about 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and rolls are toasted.

*

Or preheat broiler. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place onion slices on the prepared baking sheet. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender and lightly charred and tender, turning once.

Tips

You can get the packed-tight appeal of these sandwiches with two skillets. Place sandwich(es) in a coated and heated skillet. Place a large skillet on top of sandwich(es); add a few unopened cans of food to top skillet. Cook about 2 minutes; turn. Replace skillet and cans; cook about 2 minutes more or until done. These panini won't have the classic grill marks, but they will have the well-loved crisp, melty goodness.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

235 Calories
6g Fat
26g Carbs
24g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 235
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 800mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 2.9mg 15%
Calcium 200mg 15%
Iron 1.9mg 11%
Potassium 260mg 6%
Folate, total 31.2mcg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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