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Cooking adventures in a small, closet sized, kitchen. - I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.

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Caprese Sandwich

[heart_this] · Sep 3, 2008 · 76 Comments

Caprese Sandwich

This weekend the farmers market was full of fresh field ripened locally grown tomatoes and I picked up a bunch of them. While I was at the grocery store I was thinking about the caprese salad that I had not to long ago when I passed a nice looking loaf of ciabatta; my favorite sandwich bread. The two thoughts collided and I just had to try a caprese salad sandwich in some nice and crusty and chewy ciabatta. The first version of the sandwich was pretty simple having just fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil ant it was nice and fresh and really good.
I knew that I would be using a lot of the fresh basil to make some basil pesto and I thought that it would be great if I added some of that to the next sandwich. The fresh basil pesto made the sandwich even better! While on the roll, the next sandwich got a splash of balsamic vinegar which added a really nice kick.

Caprese Sandwich
My next thought was that it would be really nice if the mozzarella was melted by grilling the sandwich. I had wanted to do it panini style but I do not have a panini maker so I pulled out my grill pan and pressed down on the sandwich with a bowl. The grilled caprese sandwich did not get the nice panini grill marks but the mozzarella did melt nicely. The warm gooey melted mozzarella in the sandwich was really good.

Grilled Caprese Sandwich
I am off to make another sandwich.

Caprese Sandwich

Caprese Sandwich

Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Servings: 2
ingredients
  • 2 slices bread (or a bun)
  • 1 fresh ripe tomato (sliced)
  • 1 ball fresh mozzarella (sliced)
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon basil pesto (optional)
  • 1 splash balsamic vinegar (optional)
directions
  1. Assemble sandwich.
  2. Grill if desired.
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Parmesan Crusted Pesto Tilapia Bruschetta
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Food, Italian, Recipe, Sandwich, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nora B. says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    Grilled caprese panini is definitely one of my fav. sandwiches. There is an Italian cafe on campus that made a really good one and I used to have it at least once a week when I was still in college.

    Reply
  2. The DeL Sisters says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    Mmm. This looks so yummy! I have never had fresh mozzarella cheese, we are planning on making some from the milk we have from our cow! Can’t wait!

    Reply
  3. maybelle's mom says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    Grilled caprese is straight up summer. yum.

    Reply
  4. Paula says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:51 pm

    Make one for me to please! This is my most favorite sandwich, one that I ate often growing up! YUM!

    Reply
  5. Pam says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    The grilled one is definitely my favorite.

    Reply
  6. Bridget says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    Oh wow. It never occurred to me to put a caprese salad on a sandwich (because I am apparently far from creative), but that looks absolutely amazing, especially with the pesto.

    Reply
  7. Esi says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    I love caprese panini. Your basil looks beautiful.

    Reply
  8. VeggieGirl says

    September 3, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    Oooh, such a lovely, classic sandwich.

    Reply
  9. HoneyB says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:07 am

    Looks delicious Kevin!

    Reply
  10. Lori says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:21 am

    this is SO SO GORGEOUS!! oh my heavens, i see what i want for lunch tomorrow. i wish i hadn’t just finished dinner…

    Reply
  11. Rindy R says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:22 am

    This looks so refreshing! I love those summer tomatoes!

    Reply
  12. Elra says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:39 am

    Kevin.
    That is such a good looking sandwich, very simple and I love the fact that you use pesto for the spread, have you though of just putting balsamic and olive oil?

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:52 am

    so simply but so tasty!

    Reply
  14. Toni says

    September 4, 2008 at 1:13 am

    Never thought of grilling this kind of sandwich, but with fresh summer tomatoes available in abundance, and fresh basil in my garden….who am I to resist? 😉

    Reply
  15. Steph says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:05 am

    Your sandwich looks so delicious and refreshing! I think it’s perfect with the melty cheese and toasty bread.. even though there aren’t any marks.

    Reply
  16. Bobby says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:16 am

    yumm caprese, i could go for one of these right now.

    Reply
  17. Manggy says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:16 am

    Ahhh, melting the cheese over a nice hot grill is just the way things should be 😉 I love the thick, juicy tomatoes too!

    Reply
  18. Erin @ The Skinny Gourmet says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:25 am

    Great sandwich. Also: I dig the new header logo. I’m a big fan of blueberries in the logo myself 😉

    Reply
  19. Beachlover says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:43 am

    your food always look good yet simple!

    Reply
  20. Rita says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:57 am

    I LOVE this sandwich…. Great choice

    Reply
  21. [eatingclub] vancouver || js says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:23 am

    Fabulous sandwich! Love it!

    Reply
  22. Brilynn says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:23 am

    I love a good sandwich! Especially with pesto and melty cheese, this looks delicious!

    Reply
  23. Jerry says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:24 am

    Nothing but the simplest ingredients to make a great sandwich.

    Reply
  24. Bridgett says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:45 am

    What a fresh and tasty idea. Looks beautiful as well.

    Reply
  25. Gattina says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:51 am

    I am thinking in old Italian kitchens before griller was invented, the cooks doing the same thing as what you did to get nice panini huh 🙂

    Reply
  26. Sweet Bird says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:56 am

    Holy freakin’ cow that looks delicious.

    Reply
  27. Rosie says

    September 4, 2008 at 4:40 am

    Looks delicious Kevin and very colourful!

    Rosie x

    Reply
  28. Rosa's Yummy Yums says

    September 4, 2008 at 5:09 am

    OMG, that sandwich looks scrumptious! Refreshing and flavoful!

    Cheers,

    Rosadd

    Reply
  29. Pam says

    September 4, 2008 at 5:57 am

    Whenever I visit my mother in law, I go to a little bistro in town, that serves a basil pesto caprese sandwich. It is my all time favorite sandwich. The photos make my mouth water.

    Reply
  30. Mrs Ergül says

    September 4, 2008 at 5:58 am

    Wow, keep the new and great ideas flowing!

    Reply
  31. Deb says

    September 4, 2008 at 6:18 am

    Yum! Looks scrummy Kevin. You’ll have to try making your own ciabatta now 😉

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    September 4, 2008 at 7:38 am

    Such a simple sandwich yet so delicious! Looks great.

    Reply
  33. Clumbsy Cookie says

    September 4, 2008 at 8:51 am

    You made a BMT instead of the BLT! I’ll have to try the grilled version, it looks delicious with the cheese melting, yummmmmm!

    Reply
  34. noobcook says

    September 4, 2008 at 9:35 am

    Ah so simple??? I wantttt 😀

    Reply
  35. tigerfish says

    September 4, 2008 at 10:15 am

    I’m so jealous when I hear fresh produce, tomatoes, farmer’s market! So jealous!

    Reply
  36. Maya says

    September 4, 2008 at 10:57 am

    This is one of my favourite sandwiches to make Kevin!

    Reply
  37. Debbie says

    September 4, 2008 at 11:24 am

    Looks absolutely delicious. I could just take a big bite now…..

    Reply
  38. Adam says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    That bread looks perfect for that sandwich, dude. I love the melted mozzarella and those tomatoes look nice and sweet.

    Reply
  39. Darius T. Williams says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    You’re hilarious.

    I was reading this saying to myself, “this would rock with the right application of olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar.

    And then you did just that!

    And you grilled it…even better!

    -DTW
    http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

    Reply
  40. The Mediocre Cook says

    September 4, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    I love ciabatta bread and the grilled sandwich looks awesome!

    Reply
  41. Prudy says

    September 4, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    That looks utterly delicious. I love to make this sandwich to travel with (not grilled) because it keeps so well.

    Reply
  42. Marjie says

    September 4, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    “I am off to make another sandwich.” Love it!

    Reply
  43. Jeanine says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    EAch of those sandwiches look fantastic! Yum!

    Reply
  44. Jenny says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Gorgeous Kevin! A perfect Sandwich in my opinion!

    Reply
  45. Dawn says

    September 4, 2008 at 2:22 pm

    I ate so many of these this summer. I got the bread from Whole Foods: a nice sourdough baguette.
    Your picture is so mouth-watering.

    Reply
  46. Katie says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    I just got a panini maker and this is one of the sandwiches I am dying to make.

    Reply
  47. jenelisebeth says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    Goodness gracious you take amazing pictures. That food looks delicious! I love this blog…

    Reply
  48. crunchLin says

    September 4, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    yumm! yet another delicious recipe and tantalizing picture! great work!

    Reply
  49. OhioMom says

    September 4, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Love your pics! Mater sandwiches are an almost daily lunch meal for me when maters come in season … I can’t seem to get enough of them 🙂

    Reply
  50. Parker says

    September 4, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    Absolutely love this sandwich, mmm pesto and tomato are perfect together.

    Reply
  51. Sandie says

    September 4, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    Why couldn’t I have had THAT for lunch? Wahhhhh…….

    Reply
  52. Elle says

    September 4, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    I love it when great ideas collide! And i also love how your ideas on this one just kept improving what was already delicious, for sure.

    Reply
  53. Debbie says

    September 4, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    oooo…can’t wait to try this. I make an appetizer similar to this, the difference is I cut up french baggette into small circles brush them with olive oil and bake with ball moz, basil and tomato.

    Reply
  54. Claud says

    September 4, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Smells of Italy!
    😉

    Reply
  55. AmbitiousDelicious says

    September 4, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    I just wrote a similar post! I can’t get enough of this stuff 🙂

    Reply
  56. Cheryl says

    September 4, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    That looks really fresh and yummy!

    Reply
  57. giz says

    September 4, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    I just bought some interesting heirloom tomatoes and now I’m dieing to have a caprese anything 😉

    Reply
  58. jodycakes says

    September 5, 2008 at 1:32 am

    How can a caprese get any better but to be in a panini. Love the addition of additional basily goodness in the pesto.
    I don’t have a panini press either but I bought a big ol’ brick that I tripled covered in foil…that does the trick.

    Reply
  59. vanpham says

    September 5, 2008 at 3:28 am

    This looks so good! I am dreaming of when I could bite into these slices of sandwich and feel the cheese melt in my mouth…YUM!

    Reply
  60. Nina Timm says

    September 5, 2008 at 7:03 am

    Your basil is so beautiful and the leaves are so big!!! Lovely sandwich!!!

    Reply
  61. Bellini Valli says

    September 5, 2008 at 11:46 am

    When I saw your first photo I thought to myself it would be very nice with pesto…then voila you made it and then you toasted it!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  62. Proud Italian Cook says

    September 5, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    I could eat this every day!

    Reply
  63. Jude says

    September 5, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    Everything looks so good — the bread and each of elements inside. So light and satisfying.

    Reply
  64. Deborah says

    September 5, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    What a great idea! I think I’d like the one with the melty cheese the best.

    Reply
  65. Dee says

    September 5, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Your sarnie is EXACTLY what I should have had for lunch. Instead I had a soggy bagel with smoked salmon and NO cream cheese. And it rained. Which has nothing to do with lunch, but it wasn’t a good day and I want that sandwich.

    Reply
  66. Lisa magicsprinkles says

    September 5, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    This looks so fresh and beautiful.

    Reply
  67. Lori Lynn says

    September 5, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    Oh my that looks so fresh! That is what I want for lunch today!

    Great idea to grill it too.

    Reply
  68. Coffee and Vanilla says

    September 5, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    So simple and delicious Kevin… I recently buy Turkish flat bread and toast it, then spread a little bit of butter and top with mature cheddar shavings… 😉 But mozzarella, tomato, basil are one of my favourite combinations… Must try to grill it next time.

    Have a wonderful weekend, Margot

    Reply
  69. Natasha says

    September 5, 2008 at 11:50 pm

    Anything with the caprese taste combo is bound to be good!

    Reply
  70. Dana McCauley says

    September 6, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    kevin, this sandwich looks anything but boring! I’m trying to lose my vacation pounds (I’m not fat but that isn’t the same as being thin, is i?) so I’ve been laying off the bread. The picture of this sandwich could send me tumbling off the wagon, though.

    Reply
  71. Elizabeth says

    September 6, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    That first picture is just gorgeous! I now know what I’ll be picking up at the Farmer’s Market tomorrow.

    Reply
  72. Jeanne says

    September 8, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    You should be selling these sandwich inspirations to a sandwich store, Kevin… Love the melted mozzarella pic 🙂

    Reply
  73. Jaime says

    September 9, 2008 at 4:56 am

    wow that pannini looks amazing! delish

    Reply
  74. Julie says

    September 22, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    That looks SOOO yummy! Beautiful!

    Reply
  75. -MC- says

    May 26, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    I love caprese sandwiches! I don’t like to have mine unless it has the basil pesto. 🙂

    Reply
  76. Anonymous says

    August 30, 2012 at 2:48 am

    Thank you this recipe really rocks.

    Reply

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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