Turkey and Brie Panini with Cranberry Chutney
Ingredients:
- Slices of leftover turkey
- Leftover cranberry chutney, or a nice chunky cranberry sauce
- A wheel of Brie
- A lettuce blend with arugula
- Multigrain chiabatta sandwich rolls
Written Method:
Here's the lowdown - cranberry chutney first and last, with everything piled in between! Spread the bottom with a generous layer of the cranberry chutney...Then add slices of roasted turkey and some gorgeous peppery arugula salad greens. If you like a different type of salad, go for it! Remove the rind from a wheel of brie and cut yourself a generous slice of it, topping the arugula. Finally, another layer of the cranberry chutney over the brie. Top this baby with that amazing bun and we are ready to do some business!
Grill the sandwich in your panini maker, grill pan, or regular skillet or griddle. If you don't have a panini maker, you will also need something to "press" the sandwich with. I allowed my cast iron press to heat up on another burner while the grill pan was preheating. You could also use a small round heavy pan on top, or even a brick that you have cleaned and wrapped in aluminum foil. You get the message - something heavy.
To my grill pan, I sprayed a thin layer of cooking spray. Add the sandwich and your press while grilling. Don't put it on too high of a heat because you want to give the ingredients time to warm up and melt the cheese while the bread is toasting. Turn when the bottom is golden brown. The press will obviously lose its heat after a bit, so when you flip and add it to the first side, it really just helps to press the bread. So you don't have to worry about it over toasting the first side.
Now I can practically hear the "crunch" sound the bread will make as you cut into it! Then when you open it, the melted cheese starts to ooze slightly, the thick slices of turkey are warm and juicy, and the interplay of flavors and textures is purely symphonic in your mouth!
Wanting to bring your leftover Thanksgiving bounty to work in your own grown-up brown bag lunch? Well this sandwich is a very hearty lunch. I was full after half! Later when I heated up the second half in the microwave for a bit, the cheese got all oozy and melty, and it was delicious all over again! Enjoy my friends!
