Turkey, Brie, and Cranberry Panini
Pat: Let’s face it, one of the great joys of roasting a big ole turkey or ham is the leftovers. Can you imagine what the day after Thanksgiving would be like without a big turkey sandwich? Anytime we have leftover ham, I dream of ham sandwiches on a soft roll with a little dollop of Miracle Whip. When it comes right down to it, I think I prefer the sandwiches to the actual meal. What follows are two of our favorite ways to dress up leftovers. The Turkey, Brie, and Cranberry Panini are crisp and cheesy and have become a year-round lunch staple.
For the neatest results, drain the cranberry sauce before spreading on the sandwiches.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the fat starts to sizzle, add the onion, thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring, until the onion slices are caramelized and golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool slightly.
Step 2
Heat a panini press to medium-high. To assemble the sandwich, butter one side of a focaccia slice and place it butter-side down on grill. Top with 3 or 4 ounces of turkey, a spoonful of onion, 2 slices Brie, and a slather of cranberry sauce. Top with the remaining slice of focaccia, butter the top, and place the sandwich on the grill. Carefully lower the grill over the top, to press the sandwich together neatly, and grill until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat to make the other sandwiches.
