Panini / Grilled Sandwich with Pesto, Goat Cheese, Zucchini and Red Pepper

This is a quick and easy panini / grilled sandwich (panini is the Italian word for a sandwich - more here) which can be an evening snack or a meal as well. Red pepper has a sweetness which pairs well with the creamy, salty goat cheese. Zucchini adds an earthiness and pesto gives a nutty pungency to the bite. The ingredients are simple - just pick fresh produce so when you bite into the sandwich the pepper should be crunchy and the pesto should have a pop. The ingredients below are for two panini's. I have used thick slices of Italian bread, but you can use ciabatta or foccacia as well. 

* Goat cheese that I have bought has been circular roll of cheese, just make 8 slices (coins) to spread on the bread about 2 mm thick or as much as you like.

So lets start...

Ingredients:

4 slices fresh Italian bread

2 tablespoons Pesto

1 red bell pepper

6 inch chunk of zucchini

8 slices of Goat cheese*

Dash of EV olive oil 

Butter (optional)

Salt and Pepper

Skin the zucchini and cut into two 3 inch chunks. Now vertically slice these to get long rectangular planks of zucchini. Cut the top and bottom portion of the bell pepper and remove the seeds. Cut it in half and you should get two rectangular portions of the pepper. 

Heat a grill pan (or other) and add the dash of olive oil. Place the zucchini and pepper on it to give it a few grill marks and a little char. 

Take a slice of the bread and spread the goat cheese on it, 4 slices worth. Next place the zucchini and bell pepper, sprinkle some salt and pepper on it. On another slice of bread apply the pesto and cover the sandwich. Heat a panini maker or a non stick pan and place the sandwich on it. Press the sandwich till golden on each side. I used a pan so I covered the sandwich with another plate and put some weight on it to give it the pressed sandwich effect. You can also apply a little butter on the outside for a more golden sheen. 

Serve hot or warm with a tea in the winter and smoothie in the summer! Enjoy!

I am sending this to Red Chilies for a Light Lunch, her series for June and to Srivalli's Sandwich Mela...