Name: Eggplant Open Faced Pannini
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8- 1/2-inch-thick slices of panini bread; olive oil; granulated garlic powder; Parmesan cheese; 1 -1 1/4-pound eggplant, sliced crosswise 1 inch thick; 4 plum tomatoes, sliced crosswise; 1/4 inch thick 1/2 pound buffalo mozzarella, sliced 1/4 inch thick; 8 large basil leaves, torn; salt, and pepper to taste; balsamic vinegar for drizzle

Eggplant grilled with delicious grilled garlic panini bread topped with a Caprese salad, the easiest gourmet lunch ever.

This open-faced sandwich is like a pizza eggplant sandwich but so fresh and vibrant with flavors it's off the charts fantastic.

This sandwich can be done on the grill outside or indoors using a cast iron gridded skillet.

Just scroll to the bottom of the page to print off the directions.

Easy to Make Step by Step

prepare a gridded cast iron skillet with cooking oil spray
heat the grill outdoors or this can be done on the stovetop
toast the bread
slice the eggplant, place on paper towels and salt for 30 minutes then rinse the salt off
place eggplant in the skillet
top with sliced tomatoes,chese, garlic, and basil, then add the cheeses

Other Substitutions and Tips:

use zucchini in place of eggplant
for topping substitutions you can mix and match:
asparagus diced,
any kind of peppers
chopped celery
chopped green beans
sliced mushrooms
fresh spinach or arugula
julienned carrots
use any kind of cheese you prefer
ground seasoned cooked meats can be added for meat lovers
add marinara sauce first then cheese
add taco sauce with chilies and cheddar

Ingredients You Will Need Refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements

fresh eggplant slices
Caprese Topping:
sliced tomato
pepperoncini chopped stems and seeds removed
granulated garlic powder
fresh basil leaves chopped
slices of provolone or whole milk mozzarella
salt, and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese
balsamic vinegar

Easy Eggplant Side Dishes or Appetizers

This Eggplant Open Faced Panini is so easy and gourmet just about everyone that eats this thinks it came from a 5-star restaurant it's very impressive.

Perfect for lunch, or even a late-night snack cut into four pieces for sharing.

This is also lower in calories if you substitute a wrap for the bread or just skip it if want to eat lighter and lower carbs.

Just scroll to the bottom of the page to print off the directions.