Meatball Panini Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a food processor or blender, process the ends of the loaf of bread to fine breadcrumbs, about 1/2 cup. Set the remaining bread aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, meat, egg, cheeses, parsley, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and breadcrumbs. Mix with your hands to combine well.
• Roll the meat mixture into 1-inch balls and reserve on a baking sheet. Lay 2 slices of bread on work surface. Butter one side of each piece. Place 4 meatballs on the buttered surface of the slice of bread. Top with a second slice of bread, buttered side down, and press firmly to adhere. Use a serrated knife to cut the crusts from the bread. Bake the crusts separately for a "chef's treat." Repeat with the remaining meatballs and bread. This process can be done assembly-line style, lining up slices of buttered bread and assembling a number at a time. Prepare 2 baking sheets at a time if possible.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Repeat, if necessary, until all sandwiches are cooked. Remove from the pan and cool. Serve slightly warm.

Steps:

• Pre-heat panini grill to medium-high.
• Slice meatballs into 1/4" rounds. Warm meatballs and marinara sauce in the microwave.
• Butter 1 side of each slice of bread, lay butter-side down on your work surface.
• On one slice of bread, layer ingredients in the following order: 1oz cheese, marinara sauce, meatball slices, more marinara sauce, remaining cheese, top piece of bread, with buttered sides facing out.
• Place assembled sandwich on the hot grill, and close, pressing down for about a minute. Continue cooking for a few minutes, until golden brown.

Steps:

• Preheat Broiler.
• Combine meatballs and pizza sauce in a large saucepan.
• Cover and cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes or til heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, cut a thin slice from the top of each roll, hollow out roll leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick shell, Discard bread from rolls or save for another use.
• Place hollowed out rolls and roll tops, cut sides up, on baking sheet.
• Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes or till lightly toasted.
• Remove roll tops from the baking sheet.
• Spoon meatballs and sauce into toasted rolls.
• Top with cheese.
• Broil about 1 minute more or till cheese is melted.
• To serve, place basil or spinach leaves on top of cheese and replace roll tops.

Steps:

• Add olive oil, garlic and Italian seasoning to a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add marinara sauce and meatballs to a medium sauce pan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• When the sauce is hot and the meatballs are heated all the way through turn off the heat and remove meatballs from the sauce.
• Remove the olive oil from the heat and over a small bowl, pour the oil mixture through a small metal strainer.
• Using the back of a metal spoon, scrape the bottom of the strainer, pushing the garlic "paste" into the bowl.
• Brush a thin layer of the flavored oil onto the cut sides of the bread.
• Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce over one side of the bread.
• Cut each meatball in half and place them in an even layer over the marinara sauce.
• Place a slice of mozzarella cheese over the meatballs.
• Place the other slice of bread on top of the cheese covered meatballs.
• Heat an indoor grill pan over medium high heat.
• Place the sandwiches on the grill and cover with a bacon press or other heavy object and cook just until nice grill marks appear.
• Turn the sandwiches over and place the bacon press on top and cook just long enough to see grill marks.
• Serve.