Melted mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil pesto, and crispy bread come together for a delicious Italian-inspired meal.
# What You Need:
→ Bread & Dairy
01 - 4 slices country-style or sourdough bread
02 - 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
→ Vegetables & Condiments
04 - 1 large ripe tomato, sliced
05 - 2 tbsp basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
06 - Handful fresh basil leaves
→ Seasoning
07 - Pinch sea salt
08 - Freshly ground black pepper
# How To Make It:
01 - Spread basil pesto evenly on one side of each bread slice.
02 - Layer half the mozzarella slices onto two bread slices on the pesto side.
03 - Top mozzarella with tomato slices, a few fresh basil leaves, and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Add remaining mozzarella slices over the tomatoes and cover with remaining bread slices, pesto side down, forming sandwiches.
05 - Butter the outer sides of each sandwich evenly.
06 - Preheat grill pan or skillet over medium heat.
07 - Place sandwiches in panini press or skillet; cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing down if using skillet, until bread is golden and cheese melted.
08 - Remove sandwiches from heat; let rest 1 minute, then slice and serve warm.
