For this week’s recipe feature, the author of Lunchbox, Aviva Wittenberg shared her recipe for Goat Cheese, Peach, and Basil Panini. This sandwich is best the day it is prepared, but thanks to its simplicity, it can be thrown together quickly and popped into your panini pan between mouthfuls of breakfast.
Goat Cheese, Peach and Basil Panini
Ingredients:
– 2 peaches, halved and pitted
– 4 oz soft fresh goat cheese
– 4 slices pullman or other soft grilling bread
– Handful fresh basil leaves or 4 Tbsp basil pesto
Directions:
1 . Preheat your panini pan on medium-high heat.
2 . While the pan is warming up, thinly slice the peaches. Spread the goat cheese on two slices of bread and top with the peach slices. If using fresh basil, give it a rough chop and divide it between the two sandwiches. If using pesto, spread it on the other two slices of bread and place atop the peaches and goat cheese.
3 . Transfer the sandwiches to the panini pan and grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until the cheese has softened and there are nice dark caramel-brown grill marks on the bread.
4 . Remove from the pan and allow to cool before slicing and packing. The sandwiches can be popped into a toaster oven to be revived when needed, or eaten at room temperature.
Packing tip: Pack this sandwich in an airtight container with some fresh fruit and a quick and easy kohlrabi slaw (see Note) for a lovely, light end-of-summer meal. Kohlrabi is a member of the brassica family and has a pleasant crispy texture and slightly sweet flavour.
Note: To make a kohlrabi slaw, peel and grate 1 or 2 bulbs of kohlrabi using the coarsest side of a box grater until you
have about 2 cups. Toss with the juice of 1⁄2 a lime, 1 thinly sliced green onion (green parts only), 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and a big pinch of salt. Add a sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds on top for added flavour.
Featuring 75+ fail-safe recipes, Lunchbox provides healthy yet straightforward recipes for soups, sandwiches, salads, bowls, hand pies, and more that will get readers out of their lunch rut for good. The book also includes lunch-packing strategies and multi-week meal plans to help you efficiently plan your menu and your time, streamlining meal prep to avoid that stressful morning crunch.
All recipes are completely nut-free (to comply with school allergy restrictions) and Lunchbox offers plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, hot and cold weather seasonal suggestions, and freezer-friendly choices, too.
