Crispy Prosciutto & Fig Panini (Printable Version)

Gourmet pressed sandwich with prosciutto, fig jam, and fontina on crispy golden bread. Quick Italian-inspired delight.

# What You Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices rustic Italian bread (ciabatta or sourdough)

→ Spreads

02 - 3 tablespoons fig jam

→ Cheese

03 - 4 slices fontina cheese (or mozzarella or taleggio)

→ Meats

04 - 4 slices prosciutto

→ Butter

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat a panini press or large skillet over medium heat.
02 - Spread 1.5 tablespoons fig jam on each of two bread slices.
03 - Top each jam-covered slice with 2 slices of prosciutto, followed by 2 slices of cheese.
04 - Place the remaining bread slices on top to form complete sandwiches.
05 - Lightly butter the outside of each sandwich on both sides.
06 - Place sandwiches in the panini press or skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, pressing firmly, until the bread is crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.
07 - Slice in half and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crispy buttery exterior and the gooey melted cheese inside creates a textural experience that will make you close your eyes with each bite.
  • Its secretly impressive enough for company but takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish, making it my go-to when I want something that tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Letting the sandwich rest even one minute before cutting allows the melted cheese to slightly set, preventing the dreaded cheese-slide where all your filling escapes at once.
  • Buttering the bread rather than the pan creates a more even golden crust and prevents any sad pale spots.
03 -
  • If youre making multiple sandwiches, keep the first batch warm in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest, placing them directly on the oven rack to maintain their crispiness.
  • When butter is too cold to spread easily, I grate it directly onto the bread using the large holes of a box grater, a trick my grandmother taught me that creates perfectly even coverage.
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