I had both the best and the worst pizzas of my life in Italy. The best was from an extremely traditional pizza restaurant in rough and ready Napoli, which had only one type of pizza on the menu – huge margharitas made from the thinnest, crispiest, melt-in-your-mouth dough you can imagine and topped with just a smear of tomato sauce, loads of stringy mozzarella and a few super fresh leaves of basil scattered over the top. Not only was there a bit of a queue for a table, but as I remember there were also bouncers outside the door. Bouncers at a pizza restauarant? Apparently so, at this one! Now I don’t remember exactly which restaurant I visited, but there’s a great list here for anyone likely to head that way anytime soon.
As for the worst, well, that was in Milan, not far from the Piazza del Duomo. We didn’t have much time and so randomly picked a pizza place, assuming that it would be great. Wrong! If I didn’t know any better I’d say that our pizza had come right out of a packet from the freezer. Yuck.
Let’s face it, bar bad pizza experiences, pretty much everybody loves Italian food. It’s cheap and cheerful, it’s easy to make and eat (well, apart from spaghetti bolognese), it’s filling and mostly healthy and the pickiest of eaters will usually eat it. Especially if you’re talking pizza, of course.
But anyway, this post really wasn’t supposed to be about pizza (I’m making you hungry for it now, aren’t I?) On a recent(ish) trip to Melbourne, Mr. Scrummy and I spent a delightful evening in a traditional workaday Italian restaurant. The menu was pretty basic with dishes like carbonara, lasagna and gnocchi in tomato sauce, but oh so good. We sat there for a good few hours surrounded by clattering dishes, dashing (!) waiters, the owner’s nephew (probably) buttering garlic bread at the back and what seemed like mostly Italian voices chattering at the tables around us. We had such a lovely evening that we returned the next morning and sat outside for breakfast, a table of elderly Italian men putting the world to rights next to us and deliveries of fresh produce arriving in preparation for another evening’s service. If you had transported me there without telling me what city I was in (not likely to happen, but anyway …) I wouldn’t have hesitated to believe you if you’d told me I was somewhere in the middle of Rome or Milan.
Anyway, I’ve been pining after another evening in this restaurant ever since (it’s called Tiamo and it’s on Lygon Street, in case anyone is interested), so I was extremely happy to find another bustling Italian restaurant here in Perth – the Café Bella Rosa. It’s minus the chattering Italians so doesn’t have quite the same authentic feel as we experienced in Melbourne but … what it did have was something quite similar to this roasted eggplant, pesto & bocconcini panini. So simple in some ways and yet it was so, so delicious that I decided to try putting together something pretty similar the following weekend.
The key to making this sandwich so delicious, in my opinion, is whizzing up a batch of your own fresh, chunky pesto and roasting the aubergine slices for 20 minutes or so until they are soft and almost sticky. You could probably vary the rest of the ingredients a little if you wanted to, but I stuck to fresh spinach leaves, bocconcini (little balls of mozzarella cheese) and sundried tomatoes. The café where I got my inspiration had avocado on their sandwich too, which was delicious, but to be honest I forgot to put avocado on mine and it was no less delicious.
You could use a good quality store-bought pesto if you wanted to, but once you have the ingredients it really only takes a few minutes to make a quick batch of your own. All I put into mine was a bunch of basil leaves, a handful of unsalted nuts (I used a mixture of different nuts but any are fine, even just peanuts), a handful of parmesan, a small clove of garlic and about a quarter cup of best quality olive oil (Italian, of course!) Honestly, it tasted fantastic.
All I did after making my pesto was spread it on both sides of my bread – I used Turkish bread but ciabatta, focaccia or anything similar is fine – then pile up all the other ingredients and cook it in a sandwich press for a few minutes until lovely and warm and crisp.
So you may not get the chance to visit Italy (or Melbourne!) any time soon, but now you know how to bring a bit of Italy right into your home this weekend! I hope you give it a try.
weekend brunch: roasted eggplant, pesto & bocconcini panini
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
For the homemade pesto (or use a good quality store-bought pesto)
- 1 bunch basil leaves
- a handful of nuts I used a mixture of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, but any are fine
- a handful of grated parmesan cheese
- a small clove of garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil + extra for brushing your eggplant/aubergine
For the rest of the sandwich
- 2 big pieces of focaccia ciabatta or Turkish bread (or any other flat-ish crusty bread)
- 2 handfuls of fresh spinach
- 6 1/2 cm thick slices of aubergine cut from a large eggplant/aubergine lengthwise
- 6-8 bocconcini small balls of mozzarella cheese, or about 2 larger mozzarella balls, sliced
- sundried tomato slices from a jar, in oil
Instructions
- First, pre-heat the oven to 350F/180C. Brush both sides of your eggplant/aubergine slices with olive oil and roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until soft and golden.
- While your eggplant/aubergine slices are roasting, make the pesto. Put the basil, nuts, parmesan & garlic in a food processor and pulse until a chunky mixture forms. With the motor running, add the olive oil a little at a time until you have the consistency of a pesto. Scrape into a bowl and put aside.
- Slice your pieces of bread in half crosswise, then spread each half with a generous amount of pesto. Top with the spinach (a handful on each sandwich), aubergine slices (3 on each sandwich), sliced bocconcini & sundried tomato slices (be generous with those tomatoes).
- Top the sandwich with the other half of the bread, then cook with a panini press for a few minutes until hot and crisp. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Pam says
The description of your best pizza made me drool a bit. This panini looks flavorful and delicious!
Helen says
Great! That was the intention!
So glad you like it!
Mariana @The Candid Kitchen says
Your pizza story is so true, I also found that just because you’re in Italy doesn’t mean your food experience is always going to be amazing. I have never had aubergines in a sandwich before and I love the idea of adding pesto to it!
Helen says
Thanks, Mariana! Most of the food I had in Italy was incredible, though – fortunately! I promise you you’ll enjoy the aubergine in a sandwich if you try it. It’s so delicious!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
oh my, this is scrummy! I so love the combination you have used. Pizzas in Napoli are so different to the rest of Italy, and how sad that in Milano you had such a bad one. Especially where the Duomo is as that is such a tourist area 🙂
Helen says
I know, very ironic indeed! I will just have to go back to Milan and try to find a better one! 🙂
Skye says
Completely agreed. Nothing beats homemade pesto – and yours looks so beautiful and fresh (and love how you’ve used mixed nuts). And I love how you’ve added a good chunk of aubergine to this yummy, yummy sandwich – kind of meaty without needing any meat. Am going to make this – will be perfect for picnic lunches on the beach at the Venice Lido. Thanks, Helen – for a scrummy recipe and entertaining post – as always! Xx
Helen says
Thank you for your encouragement, Skye! I am imagining you there on the beach with your sandwich and trying not to feel envious right now! (I’ve been to those long stretches of sandy beach on the Venice lido). It must be wonderful to be there!
Isadora says
I love pizza and if it were up to my husband we would eat pizza for every meal! I’m not sure if he believes in the idea of a bad pizza, haha! I got a Panini maker for Christmas and I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t used it yet. These looks so good that I think I need to break it out and make these right now, even though it is late at night and I’ve already eaten dinner. The flavors sound amazing 🙂
Helen says
Haha … I have that happen to me all the time when I’m reading blogs late at night, Isadora! And don’t worry, I can beat you on your non-use of your panini maker. I bought a pasta machine in about 1999 and it’s still in its box!
Consuelo - Honey & Figs says
I’m not the biggest fan of pizza (weird, I know haha), but that Margheritta one sounded brilliant to me! I love to hear about your travel experiences Helen – your writing is perfect!
This panini sounds amazing. I adore all things eggplant, and pesto makes everything better in my book! I love the sound of this dish 🙂
Helen says
Thanks so much for the lovely compliments, Consuelo. You are sweet! I totally agree that pesto can make a lot of dishes better. I’m a bit addicted to it at the moment!
Karla says
omg this panini looks so tasty! And the post comes in so handy, as yesterday I took 6 courgettes from our garten, including a massive one that has been forgotten there :/ I´m sure it will work with courgettes as great as with eggplant, don´t you think?
Helen says
Hi, Karla! Yes, I don’t see why you could’t put roasted (or pan-fried) courgettes in your sandwich! It’s still a strong Mediterranean flavour. Go for it! I have a recipe with courgette in it coming up pretty soon, as well, so stay tuned. 😉
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Oh Helen, this panini is the stuff my dreams are made of. Seriously – that bread, pesto, mozzarella, eggplant? Ugh so great! I think I’d like to eat that pesto with a spoon! I spent a glorious seven days in Italy during college visiting my boyfriend when he studied abroad, and I believe during that week I consumed a frightening amount of pizza (and gelato, and mozzarella…). All were delicious, thankfully!
Helen says
Well, I have to admit that I did eat some of the pesto with a spoon! I am wishing that I hadn’t frozen the batch I made yesterday so that I can eat another one of these sandwiches today! 🙂
[email protected] says
What an amazing vegetarian panini! I love all the flavors.Eggplant is a vegetable I should cook with more often. Bet it tastes amazing with the pesto!
Helen says
That’s what I thought when I made this, Christin. It’s really easy to roast the eggplant slices, so why don’t I do it more often? 😉
Lail | With A Spin says
Oh, Helen, these pan inis look amazingly good. Have I mentioned how much I love panini. Yum!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Lail! 🙂
Archana @ The Perfect Zest says
This is exactly the kind of panini I love to eat – and pesto adds such depth of flavor to go with the cheese!
Next time I visit Australia, I intend to go to Melbourne. I may be in Australia sooner than I’d be in Rome so I must check that italian place out.
And I love this turkish bread you find in Australia – we don’t have it here in the US (at least not in the NYC area) .. next time must remember to bring some back with me 🙂
Helen says
So happy that you like the panini, Archana! It’s made me into a bit of a pesto fanatic, making batches all the time! Oh well, I suppose there are worse obsessions to have! As for the Turkish bread, we don’t have that in the UK, either. It reminds me of ciabatta a bit, though. Of course, any fairly flat bread will do for a lovely panini!
P.S. I really hope you do get the chance to visit that Italian restaurant in Melbourne one day.
Mary Frances says
I find the irony hilarious! Although it probably was not funny at the time 🙂
I think I just found the best Panini of my life! Love the veggies and flavors packed in here, Helen!
Helen says
Yes, as you can imagine it was pretty disappointing at the time. To be honest, that whole day getting to Milan was a bit like Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I should have told that story, too!
Grinning from ear-to-ear about the fact that you’ve found the best panini of your life! 🙂
Ashley says
Before we moved, we had the BEST local pizza place – it was sooo good. And now we can’t find one we like here. Booooo. We’re still looking but for now I’ve been sticking with homemade 🙂
And this panini?? Sounds awesome – I really love using eggplant and with the pesto… so good!
Helen says
Awww, disappointing! Maybe you could ask them if they could pretty please make a special delivery once in a while. 😉 You can’t go far wrong with homemade, anyway.
So happy you like the panini. I’m a bit in love with this combo now!
Louisa [Living Lou] says
Paninis are kind of the only sandwich that I like! This one looks delicious, I love the suggestion in the comments of adding sundried tomatoes in there also, yum!
Helen says
I love the fact that they’re toasted. They certainly do put ordinary sandwiches in the shade, don’t they? 🙂
whatjessicabakednext says
This looks amazing Helen! I love the flavours packed into this one sandwich!
Helen says
So happy you like it, Jess! 🙂
Sarah @ Running On Brie says
This panini looks completely scrumptious. I want to make one right now! I forget how fabulously easy roasted eggplant is…and I’m loving this combination of goodies together. You’re right about fresh homemade pesto…it’s super easy and one of the most delicious things in the world. Thanks for sharing!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Sarah! And thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment, too.
You’re so right about roasted eggplant – it’s pretty versatile and very easy to roast. 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Roasted veggie paninis are the best! This one looks amazing 🙂
Helen says
Thank you, Medha! This was actually the first one I’d ever made, believe it or not, but it won’t be the last! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Helen it’s like you knew that I was eating low carb and the picture of this panini would set me off into spasms of uncontrollable drooling! 😛
Helen says
Ooops! Sorry about that … well, a little bit sorry… 😉
Meggan Hill says
What a delicious sandwich idea, Helen! I especially love the addition of the pesto, that’s one of my favorite condiments! Pinning, Tweeting, and FBing! 🙂
Helen says
Hi, Sweeet Meggan! Thanks so much for visiting … and pinning, and tweeting & FBing … you’re such a super star!
So happy you like the sandwich, as well. For me it’s the fresh pesto and eggplant that makes it – you can definitely vary the other ingredients. 🙂
sue/the view from great island says
This is making me VERY hungry!
Helen says
Well … good! That was the intention! 🙂
Thaila @ butter and brioche says
YUM this looks delicious… definitely recreating this panini recipe. love it! and that pesto looks awesome! thanks for sharing another great recipe Cheri.
Helen says
Hello, Thaila. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it if you do try it. 🙂
cheri says
Great sandwich Helen, and as always a great story to go with it, love this sandwich.
Helen says
Thank you so much, Cheri. 🙂
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
I can’t believe you had the best AND worst in Italy! How ironic, but so glad you got a recovery meal like this panini. It sounds and looks so amazing – I’m actually off to make pesto today!
Helen says
Isn’t pesto just the best? I don’t make it nearly as often enough. I suppose you could call this my ‘recovery panini’. Glad you like it, Jess!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
You know I love this kind of sandwich. I’m all over this!
Helen says
I thought it would be up you alley, Norma! Anything Mediterranean, and Norma’s in! 😉
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I had a friend in college who was studying abroad from Italy, and couldn’t stand the american version of italian food. The worst for her was pizza. Glad that the worst pizza you’ve ever had was in Italy, now I don’t feel so bad!
This sandwich sounds amazing! My sister has a panini maker, and every time I go to her house I have to make one. They’re just so good! Love this all veggie version : )
Helen says
I think that maybe ‘proper’ Italian pizzas are so delicate that they are easy to get wrong? But when they are right … wow, they are oh so right! I hope you give this sandwich a go when you next go to your sister’s! 🙂
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
This panini was amazing!!!!
Helen says
It certainly was, Jocelyn! I can still taste it now … veeery tasty!
[email protected] TheGastronomicBong says
What a fabulous Panini!! Aubergine, pesto and mozzarella all go together so well… love the addition of sun dried tomatoes.. Perfect!! 😀
Helen says
Thanks so much for saying so, Arpita! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Helen, this panini looks fabulous! I always order paninis at restaurants, but have never made my own before. Now I have the perfect recipe! I love how you used eggplant and pesto in these. Eggplant is highly underrated in my book! Such a delicious combination!
Helen says
Thanks, Gayle! I got into eating a lot of eggplant in Greece and I guess discovered how delicious it is. When roasted like this is perfect for a sandwich. I hope you have a go at making something like this some day. 🙂
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
Helen, these look absolutely delicious! I love sandwiches like this to snack on all weekend. Didn’t know that bocconcini was mozz cheese, learning every day!
I don’t consider myself much of a cook but even I make my own pesto and it’s totally worth the effort! Love the eggplant, growing my first this summer, crossing my fingers.
Just admiring all the ingredients in the recipe, not leaving anything out, wondering if I could pop in a little fresh tomato with the sundries tomatoes? Will be delicious and filling either way =)
Helen says
Oh, I think you could definitely pop in some fresh tomato, Laura. Especially if they happen to be from your amazing garden!
So happy that you approve of this sandwich. I was pretty much in Saturday morning heaven with every bite!
Eva says
C’est panini attends qu’un truc, être dévoré ! Il donne beaucoup d’envie !
Malheureusement pour les pizzas, des fois on a des mauvaises surprises ! En Espagne, c’est pareil, le pire paella sont au restaurants (dans certains )
Helen says
Je suis totalement d’accord, Eva! J’ai mange quelques paellas presque degoutants en Espagne. Le mieux, c’etait a la maison d’une copine espagnole, bien sur!
Je suis ravie que tu aimes le sandwich. J’ai envie d’en manger un autre ce matin! 🙂