Turkey, Fig & Capicola Panini

Ingredients:
1 loaf Italian bread, sliced
2 oz fig jam
8 slices fontina cheese
8 slices very thinly sliced lean capicola

16 slices smoked turkey breast

butter
Directions:

Place the cheese in a single layer a slice of bread. Top with a slice of cheese. Spread the jam on the cheese, top with capicola, turkey and another layer of cheese.

Cover the cheese with the other slice of bread. Lightly butter each side of the sandwich. Place on a panini press preheated to “medium”. Press until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.

My thoughts:

One of my favorite ways to make a grilled cheese is on a panini press. It is arguably the easiest way to make grilled cheese but the resulting sandwich seems more special than one fried in a pan. The trick to a good panini is making sure you have at least some cheese touch the bread. The cheese will act like a “glue” to hold the sandwich together. There is nothing worse than biting into a panino only to have it slide apart! Fontina is a great choice because it melts well . Its nutty flavor complemented both meats and kept the jam from being too overpowering or sweet.

Note: I received a few emails asking which panini press I have. I love my Breville and highly recommend it.

13 Comments

  1. This panini is so apealling… 😀
    Wonderfull

  2. George@CastIronFoodie

    That looks really good. The only time I have fruit or jam on a hot sandwich is if it's ham, Brie, and apples or a Monte Cristo. I really like the idea of mixing the fig jam and capicola together to get spicy and sweet I'm the same bite.

  3. I love how simple this recipe is while still packing a huge flavor punch. I have a panini press that has gotten very little use so far, but think I will make up for that soon.

  4. Happy When Not Hungry

    My mouth is watering! I love capicola and adding the fig and turkey sounds heavenly. Def need to try!

  5. Yum! Fig jam is one of my secret ingredients for making fabulous panini, but I have never combined it with capicola. I love good sweet-salty balance so will have to try this.

  6. Megan @ MAID in Alaska

    Your sandwiches are speaking to me… and I can't eat them! Darn food allergies!! LOVELY pictures though! If I could have gluten and diary I'd be eating your sandwich!

  7. Maris (In Good Taste)

    You have made me want to get a pannini press!

  8. Katie@Cozydelicious

    This looks fantastic! I'm running to the store for capicola so I can make this for lunch today!

  9. The Chocolate Covered Kitchen

    Looks good! I don't have a panini press, but I picked up a George Forman grill for five bucks at a rummage sale and it's great for paninis.

  10. France@beyondthepeel

    Oh my…This looks devilishly good. My husband is a sandwich maniac and he would absolutely love this. Putting this one on the "must make" list. Have you tried it with brie as well?

  11. France
    No but I think it would be.

  12. France@beyondthepeel

    Fig jam is my favorite and I love pairing it with cheese and meat. Yum!

  13. This looks divine! Can't wait to try it!