Grilled Zucchini Panini with Parmesan Fries

This sandwich earns its street cred not only by its grill marks, but by packing roasted savory flavors.

Panini

[yields 1 serving]

• 3 tsp olive oil
• 2 slices whole wheat mountain bread
• 3 tbsp roasted garlic aioli (see recipe below)
• 1 large zucchini, sliced to 5mm planks
• 3 slices roasted tomato (see recipe below)
• 1/3 cup baby spinach
• 1/4 cup red onion diced
• 1 1/2 slices American cheese
• 1 small avocado

Preheat panini press plates to 400 degrees each. Place zucchini slices on panini press for 2-3 minutes until tender, and then remove from heat. In a medium skillet, sauté red onion for approximately 7 minutes, then remove from heat. Brush the outward facing sides of the whole wheat mountain bread with olive oil. Place spinach, grilled zucchini planks, roasted tomato slices, red onion, avocado, and American cheese on the sandwich. Follow with the other piece of mountain bread, oiled side facing outwards. Press in panini press for 4-6 minutes. Serve with parmesan fries (recipe below) and roasted garlic aioli (recipe below). 

Roasted Garlic Aioli

[yields 3 servings]

• 1 head garlic
• 3 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp brown sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut off the tip of the garlic head. Place garlic head on a square of foil and brush with olive oil. Wrap foil around garlic, and roast for 40 minutes. When garlic is done roasting, take out of oven (caution: hot) and squeeze out the garlic cloves. Mash them. Then, in a small bowl mix mashed roasted garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worchestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar. Let sit in fridge to chill.

Roasted Tomato Slices

[yields 3 servings]

• 2 medium tomatoes
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 pinch sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tomato to 6mm thick slices. Place on a foiled baking sheet.  Brush them with the olive oil, sprinkle with a pinch of sugar, and season with garlic salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 15-20 minutes.

Parmesan Fries

[yields 4-5 servings]

• 3 large russet potatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut potatoes into wedges. In a large bowl, coat potatoes with olive oil. Toss with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, and salt and pepper. Place them on a foiled baking sheet, and bake for 25-35 minutes until fork-tender.