Best Ever Turkey Pesto Panini

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% mine.

Here is a delicious turkey pesto panini that’s perfect for summer! It’s ideal for a light lunch and can be ready in minutes.

Summer calls for quick and delicious lunches and a delicious turkey cheese panini is exactly what we’re looking for! Serve it with some oven roasted potatoes or roasted garlic brussel sprouts for a complete meal.

Do I need a panini press for this recipe?

Not necessarily. I made my panini in a cast iron skillet with just a little bit of butter. This method gives a nice crust and sear on each side of the panini.

The ingredients

To make this ridiculously delicious turkey panini, you need the following ingredients:

Bread

I used two large and thick slices of homemade sourdough bread. However, you can also use other types of bread such as brioche, challah or ciabatta. What’s important is to use a type of bread that can handle the weight of the ingredients inside and doesn’t tear apart easily.

Pesto

You can use homemade or store-bought pesto for this recipe. Again, this depends on what you have on hand. So for example, if you have some arugula walnut pesto from last week's cooking, you can use it to make this turkey pesto panini.

Pan roasted turkey

I used Primo Taglio® pan roasted turkey which has no binders or fillers. Primo Taglio is a premium quality line of meats and cheeses made with the finest ingredients, available at a value in the DC area exclusively at Safeway.

Brie

As for the cheese, I also used Primo Taglio brie that’s made with high quality milk and old world recipes. Brie adds a delightful creaminess to the panini and pairs perfectly with the sliced pan roasted turkey.

Sun dried tomatoes

Marinated sun dried tomatoes add so much flavor to this panini and pair well with the brie.

Artichoke

I used herb and olive oil marinated artichoke hearts. It gives such nice flavor to the dish.

I shopped at Safeway in my local area, but you can also find Primo Taglio products exclusively at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market, Tom Thumb and Vons.

How to make turkey pesto panini

Prepare the ingredients

Place the slices of bread, turkey and brie slices, chopped sun dried tomatoes and artichoke on a board so you have everything on hand.

Assemble the panini

Spread about one tablespoon pesto on each slice of bread. Top one piece of bread with 2 slices of pan roasted turkey and top it with brie, sun dried tomatoes and artichoke. Finish with 2 more slices of turkey and then place the bread on top.

Cook

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Melt about half a tablespoon of butter in the pan and place the panini in the pan. Sear on one side for 5 to 7 minutes, flip and sear on the other side as well until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden and crispy. Serve immediately.

A few important notes to make your own panini at home

• Cast iron skillets are perfect for making paninis at home, especially if the bread slices are thick. Make sure your skillet is hot before placing the panini in the pan.
• Melt about half a tablespoon of butter in the pan before you start cooking. This will give the panini a very nice sear and color, and make it extra crispy.
• Be careful when flipping the panini to make sure the ingredients don't fall out. Slide a spatula under the sandwich and place your hand on top. Carefully flip the panini and melt a second tablespoon of butter in the pan to sear the other side as well.
• Make sure the heat is medium to medium low so the cheese melts completely.

Side dishes to serve

This turkey panini goes very well with a simple salad such as cucumber tomato avocado salad or simple Mediterranean salad.