Apple Cheddar Panini

It’s the time of year when apples turn up in just about everything. I can’t say I’ll complain about that though, because this crisp fruit can add a hint of sweetness or a delightful crunch to many fall dishes. One of my recent favorites is an Apple Cheddar Panini made with multi-grain bread, sliced cheddar cheese, prosciutto or ham, crisp apples, caramelized onions and a handful of baby spinach.

The good news about this recipe? It can be made to be pretty healthy. Read on to learn more.

Apple Cheddar Panini

Total Time: 30 minutes

Number of servings: 2

Per Serving 489 calories

Fat 27 g

Carbs 32 g

Protein 31 g

2


Ingredients

  • 4 slices dense multi-grain bread
  • Several thin slices of Conebella Farm cheddar or smoked cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices uncured ham or nitrate-free prosciutto
  • ½ of one Honeycrisp or Jonagold apple, thinly sliced
  • A handful of baby spinach
  • Caramelized onions from ½ a red onion

Instructions

  1. 1. Start by caramelizing the onions. Slice onions thinly and sauté in olive oil for 15-20 minutes on low heat, stirring frequently until translucent and caramelized.
  2. 2. While the onions are being caramelized, you can begin building your sandwich by layering all the ingredients on the bread, placing the cheese as the first and last layer so that it touches both sides of the bread and melts together nicely. There’s no need to butter the sandwiches unless you prefer it that way or if you don’t have a non-stick pan.
  3. 3. Transfer sandwiches to a Gorge Foreman grill, frying pan or grill pan. Allow the sandwiches to cook on medium heat until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Serve & enjoy!

This recipe is made healthy by multi-grain bread, which is typically high in fiber, low in sodium and contains naturally occurring healthy proteins, vitamins and minerals. It’s always best to opt for uncured and nitrate free ham whenever possible, since nitrates may lead to some cancers and heart disease. Conebella Farm Cheese is made from raw milk, so it’s high in probiotics and essential amino acids, minerals, enzymes and vitamins. Apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Spinach is an excellent source of folate and vitamin A and onions are a good source of vitamin C and fiber.