Shelly's Recipe

SICILIAN PANINI

Category: Sandwiches

1 lb focaccia, cut crosswise into 4 pieces and split horizontally
Olive oil as needed
1/2 cup roughly chopped pitted black olives
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 8 slices
32 slices salami
3 tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Fresh basil leaves as needed

Preheat an electric panini press to 375 according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Spray or brush both sides of the focaccia pieces with olive oil. Lay the bottom halves of the focaccia, cut sides up, on a work surface and sprinkle with the olives, dividing evenly. Top each with 2 cheese slices, 8 salami slices, 3 tomato slices and a layer of basil leaves. Cover the sandwiches with the top halves of the focaccia, cut sides down.

Place 2 of the sandwiches on the preheated panini press and cook according to the manufacturers instructions until the cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the sandwiches to a cutting board and cut in half. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

NOTE: I don't have a panini press, so I put the sandwiches in a skillet and put a smaller skillet on top of the sandwich and weigh it with a brick. Then flip the sandwich and to the other side.