The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook

Great book! Includes basics and advanced recipes about panini making. 
You will learn so much from this book! How to and what to do or not do.  
I loved the fact that the book allows you advance from simple basic recipes to more complicated.
Books written as such - will make you professional chef!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

From the publisher, as I do not regurgitate the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it.


Your panini press will become your most versatile friend in the kitchen with The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook, a compendium of Kathy Strahs's best 100 panini press recipes, beautifully illustrated with new colour photos.

Who knew this simple and easy-to-use kitchen appliance could do so much?

Kathy Strahs, for one, did. Creator of the multiple-award-winning food blog Panini Happy, the web's go-to destination for panini-press wisdom, Strahs does wonderful things with a panini press, from crafting perfect Italian-style panini to building scrumptious and creative grilled cheese sandwiches to making things you never thought you could make on a countertop grill or griddle.

Dig into these recipes to discover your panini press's impressive range—including breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners, for the weekday whirl and for relaxing times on weekends. About half the recipes in this book—a collection of the 100 best recipes from Strahs's earlier book, The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook—are for paninis, such as a robust Cheddar, Apple, and Whole-Grain Mustard Panini or a zesty Chimichurri Steak Panini. The remaining recipes are for dishes you will be amazed to learn you can make on a countertop grill, including quesadillas, croques monsieurs, brats, burgers, salads topped with crisply grilled meats, and even grilled desserts.

This beautiful volume will inspire great cooking and fun meals, without the fuss or effort.

This is a great little cookbook for everything and anything panini --- although I did have to laugh at the thought that the original panini book was "groundbreaking"! #humblebrag ???  If like me, you have a press and no idea what to do with it beyond sandwiches, you will like this book: yes, there are a lot of sandwiches but there are more ideas in here as well.. I may just have to dust the thing off and give it another go. 

As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I love emojis (outside of their incessant use on Instagram and Twitter) so let's give it oooey-gooey inside of a panini 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀

If you own a panini press or other type of indoor grill, this book could inspire you to try new ways of using your appliance. Not only is the book filled with yummy-sounding panini recipes, but the author also gives non-panini recipes in almost every section, showing you how to use your panini press or indoor grill for more than just food pressed between two slices of bread.

The book starts with general information about the different types of panini presses or indoor grills. Yes, if you have a George Foreman grill, you can definitely use that as a panini press, she states. She details the types of ingredients that work well in a panini press and suggests that you keep yourself open to possibilities. 

Further chapters are broken down first by the type of protein like poultry, pork, beef, lamb, and seafood. She goes on to have a section just on fruits, vegetables, and beans. A whole chapter is dedicated to grilled cheese, of course! She ends the book with first a breakfast and brunch section and then a dessert chapter.

The book has only a few pictures in each chapter. I would have liked to have seen more photos of the recipes. The panini press can make amazingly gorgeous, ooey-gooey delicious food. Why not tempt the reader or future buyer with lots of pictures of scrumptious-looking food?

Some recipes have auxiliary recipes, like slaws and spreads, to go with them. These are included just after or within the pertinent recipe. However, many of these would be fantastic to use as you branch out in your own panini making. I think there should have been a Basic Accompaniment section that listed some of these mini recipes. Put simple ones like Caramelized Onions and Chipotle Mayonnaise in the chapter itself and add an index list of titles of more complex ones, like Cranberry Coleslaw or Pickled Daikon and Carrot. That way, as the panini cook plays around with panini concepts, she wouldn’t have to go thumbing through the whole book to find, say, Basil-Garlic Mayonnaise or Crispy Fried Onions.

Here are some recipe titles to tempt you: Turkey and Wild Mushroom Panini; Serrano Ham, Manchego, and Membrillo Panini; Chimichurri Skirt Steak Panini; Pan Bagnat Panini; Caprese Panini; Honey Walnut-Crusted Aged Cheddar Panini; Blueberry Ricotta Grilled Cheese Panini; and Fluffernutter Panini. Here are some recipes that are beyond the panini but can be done with it: Spatchcocked Game Hen, Grilled Pork Ban Mi, Grilled Shrimp Tostadas, Grilled Herbed Vegetables, Grilled Cheese Panzanella Salad, and Grilled Angel Food Cake with Lemon Curd.

Despite its flaws, this book is a wonderful addition to the cook’s library if she or he is looking to expand how they use their panini press.

You will learn which panini press to buy - one with or w/o a thermostat, drip pan or height adjustment. You are given instructions on grilling and cleaning too! 
The author encourages the use of thicker breads instead of sandwich loaves, deli sliced meat or leftovers, and sliced cheese as the shredded cheese is messier and will not melt as easily as sliced cheese does.
The first recipe is for a Chicken, Brie, Fig and Arugula sandwich which looks moist and delicious! The Chicken Bacon Melt Panini with Avocado Spread has chicken cutlets, bacon, plum tomato slices and Asiago cheese in it, and you are shown how to cook the chicken, then add the other ingredients and press them.
The author uses turkey, baguettes, Brie cheese and whole cranberry sauce to create an after-holiday feast! You can even make no-flip chicken cheese quesadillas with tortillas, chicken, chiles and cheese!
There is a luscious sounding recipe for Antipasto Panini that contains salami, mozzarella, prosciutto and artichokes on a ciabatta roll. There are beef recipes too - such as Hawaiian Flank Steak Teriyaki Panini, in which the beef is marinated and topped with Teriyaki Mayonnaise!
Enjoy using your Panini Press and impressing your friends and taste buds with these delicious meals

Probably an excellent gift for a young adult moving away from home, or for anyone who has just acquired a panini press.  The book offers a variety of recipes that wouldn't ordinarily come to mind, as well as easy to follow step by step instructions on to create a perfect panini.

There's a handy subsection on machine maintenance and how to get the very best out of it, and above all the book features food photography so the would be chef has an idea of what to aim for.

Liked this book a lot. 

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love the innovative-ness of this book! There are so many great recipes for not only paninis, but also recipes for grilling on the press. They are easy to follow, great for small spaces because they all rely on a fairly small piece of equipment, and absolutely delicious! There is also a ton of information on tools and how to use a panini press in ways I never thought of before.

Who doesn't love a hot pressed sandwich cooked on a panini press? But what kind of press should you get and what other foods can you cook on it? Check out this book to find out all of that information and so much more.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Harvard Common Press and Netgalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. What a great cookbook my mouth was watering just reading it!  I tried Turkey and Wild Mushroom Panini, grilled duck breasts, and Monte Cristo Panini.  All of them fabulous and look forward to cooking and eating my way through this book!

The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs

100 Surefire Recipes for Making Panini--and Many Other Things--on Your Panini Press or Other Countertop Grill

The only use I have made of my panini press is to make chicken sandwiches at home when my husband brings home rotisserie chicken. I wanted a few more ideas and this book definitely provided them. I am not sure that I would make ALL of the recipes but did find it interesting to read through them and also learn that the press can be used for more than just making sandwiches. What else can you make? Burgers, chicken, roast garlic, vegetables, fruits and other things. I can see that it might come in handy should my propane gas jar empty when I want to cook something so will keep a few of the ideas for such a day. 
The book has over 100 recipes and each chapter includes some ideas for sandwiches as well as “other things”. The chapters begin with the basics and move on to what might go inside for the carnivore and vegetarian and include a few sweets, too. I make my own jams and now would like to try a few with cheese or pizza toppings as some of the combinations sound delicious. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

4 Stars

This  book contained some really great panini recipes! There was a nice balance of simple recipes and more complex ones, as well as a good balance in a variety of flavors. I will definitely be trying some of these recipes! I thought the book was well done and appreciated the introductory information about the fundamentals of building a panini sandwich. The photos were lovely, but I would have liked to see more.

The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early March.

Sandwiches and beyond: there are recipes for meats, seafoods, fruit, veg, legumes, breakfast/brunch, then dessert with bold headers and a paragraph of insight before going into the recipe. My personal favorites (and that I intend to make with my Griddler at home) are the chicken cordon bleu panini, grilled pork bahn mi, tri-tip French dip panini au jus, bacon crab melt panini, green goddess grilled cheese panini, and grilled apple turnovers.

I love Panini sandwiches! So when I saw this new book, The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs, I knew that I had to take a close look at it. I was blown away! You notice that the title isn't the Panini sandwich cookbook, but the Panini press cookbook and that because you will be amazed at how many things you can make with this special appliance. I will always treasure my sandwiches, but now I am on to so many more things, and it is so exciting.

The Sandwiches
Of course I flipped right to my favorite section and checked if there were any new combinations that I could try out. I felt like all 100 recipes were brand new to me. My goal is now to work my way through this cookbook as soon as possible. I started with Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Panini. If you love herbs like I do, and melted cheese makes your heart sing, give this sandwich a try, you won't be disappointed. Then I moved on to Pork Tenderloin, Apple Butter and Provolone Panini. Making apple butter in the fall is a favorite for me, so finding a new way to work this into a Panini...heaven!

More than Sandwiches
The sandwiches suggest using just about every type of bread out there, but what about going beyond the traditional bread. I love a good fish taco, and this cookbook contains a recipe for Grilled Fish Tacos with the added recipe for Chipotle Sour Cream. I see a lot more fish coming up in my meal plans!

Grilled Salads
I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but thanks to The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook I have now mastered a new type of indoor grilling. Grilled Peach Salad with Toasted Pecans, Blue Cheese, and Honey Balsamic Syrup. Your Panini press can make INCREDIBLE grilled fruit and when you make this whole salad, you will be amazed at the flavors.

Breakfast all day long
Finally, I have to mention the recipe for Strawberry, Banana and Nutella Panini. The name says it all, so I'm just going to let you know that it is perfectly fine to eat breakfast at any hour of the day!

I don't think that a 5 star rating is high enough for this book, but that's what I am proudly giving in this review. I hope that you enjoy this cookbook as much as I do.

I volunteered to read this book and review it in exchange for a free copy.  All my review is my opinion.  I am very impressed with the level of detail the cookbook goes into.  It begins by describing the different panini presses, and which is best for your purposes.  It goes into using a sandwich grill as well.  It's sectioned off by the different meats or veggies that you choose to use.  I was pleased to see a recipe for an authentic greek panini!  It discusses the different types of bread you can use and why.  There is also a dessert section.  I can't wait until my panini press arrives, as I will be making a Greek panini.

This is a really innovative recipe book showing you how to make a variety of food both sweet and savoury by using one piece of your kitchen electric that you might not realise is multi-use. The recipes included are perfect for all abilities and timescales.

Finally a book with nothing but paninis! I love panini sandwiches and this book contained so many tempting recipes. Hawaiian Flank Steak Terayaki isn't even one that I would've though of. But it sounds so good. Great way to spice up your sandwich choices.

I think this book is a great addition to any home cook’s library.  
I’ve had a basic panini press for years, and just recently acquired a fancy one with removable grates.  The author realized that panini presses are different, and made the recipes in a manner that they would work on any type.  She teaches you about the temperatures, about cleaning, drainage.  She teaches you about bread options and thicknesses, the best cheeses for paninis. And finally, she supplies you with tips for best results.  

I would have never thought about crumbling foods and mixing with butter to make a crunchy spread crust.  I’m really excited to try this out.  

This book had about 100 recipes, poultry, hog, butcher, sea, nature, gooey, morning, and sweet. 

I'm especially excited to try the following:
chicken fig brie arugula
Turkey cranberry brie
Ham and brown sugar
Tri tip French dip 
Honey walnut crusted aged cheddar 
Straberry banana Nutella

Thanks Netgalley and Kathy Strahs for this book.

This book was received as an ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book had helpful tips and tricks with using a panini press and making wonderful delicious hot sandwiches. I just got a new press and now I am so excited to use it now that I have the knowledge and recipes that help me do so. I can't wait to try the steak and chimichurri panini and many others and also hearing about Kathy's blog, I can't wait to check it out and look for more recipes to share with my family.

We will definitely consider adding this title to our Cookbook collection in our Non-Fiction section at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I absolutely love these cookbooks that specialize in one  thing and do it well. This book covers everything from the best equipment to use to make panini's and what kinds of bread work well  and  delicious ingredients to stuff them with! The combinations are creative and  scrumptious. You absolutely can not go wrong with this book!

As a student learning how to cook, I found this book super helpful. The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs has a wide array of recipes to try out, which stretch from the different sandwiches to even grilled salads. I never knew how many things you can make with just a panini press!

It was so exciting learning all these new ways on using the panini press and I'm very excited to try some of these recipes out!

Some that I've found myself drooling over were:
- Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Panini
- Pork Tenderloin, Apple Butter and Provolone Panini
- Grilled Peach Salad with Toasted Pecans, Blue Cheese, and Honey Balsamic Syrup
- Strawberry, Banana and Nutella Panini

This recipe book includes 100 panini press recipes, which are beautifully illustrated with color photos (which if you know me is my favourite in any cookbook.)  These recipes range from ordinary to blow you away sandwich ideas.  I was amazed by the variety of paninis which ranged from breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners, This recipe book is definitely all-encompassing and has given me so many great ideas to use with my new panini press.  I would recommend this book to anyone (even if you don't already have a press!)

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook: 100 Surefire Recipes for Making Panini-and Many Other Things-on Your Panini Press or Other Countertop Grill by Kathy Strahs, and a great addition to my cookbooks.  Recently a friend gave me a Panini Press and I was excited to read this book.  I have tried several recipes, and they turned out great.  I also enjoyed the tips about which bread, cheese, etc to buy and why.  I recommend this cookbook to all Panini lovers, you will enjoy it.  

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you.

This to me is like a cross between a fancy sandwich and a cheese toasty and I sure look forward to giving them a go.

This book contains 9 chapters which starts with an introduction to the panini and press basics, and then 8 delightful chapters full of ideas that include chicken, turkey & duck, pork, beef & lamb, seafood, vegetables, cheese, breakfast & brunch concluding with desserts.

There are 100 recipes to choose from and comes with some colour photography.  Metric and imperial measurements are given.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

I am reviewing this book for Kathy Strahs, Quarto Publishing and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
I love panini's, as does the family, so it was a great book for us to look at. It goes into a lot of detail re the different grills available, different breads to use, what to use on the paninis etc.  Have tried a couple of the recipes and they were delicious.

This is chock full of every kind of Panini that you can think of!  While you might wish for a few more pictures, this does pepper them here and there, and would take away from all the recipes packed into this book!  I'm a visual creature and would have liked a few more pictures, but there is a recipe for everyone packed into this book. Guaranteed you'll find at least one for your taste buds! I give it 4 stars!

I found several recipes in this book that my family will and has enjoyed. The recipes had ingredients that most kitchens have and the directions were very easy to follow. Really nice cookbook

Countertop appliances are very convenient, since they can be portable, as well as they don’t heat up the kitchen or take up burners on the stove or oven space. The Panini Press is one such appliance, and it has myriad uses other than just plain sandwiches. To learn how to get the most of your Panini press, Kathy Strahs has released an excellent cookbook, The Best of the Best Panini Press Cookbook:100 Surefire Recipes for Making Panini--and Many Other Things--on Your Panini Press or Other Countertop Grill with everything you need to know to create wonderful Panini sandwiches, as well as other yummy things.

The first few chapters of the book include the basics of good Panini making – purchasing, using, bread and fillings, etc. - and also tools needed. The subsequent chapters include recipes for every kind of Panini imaginable. There are excellent photographs of many of the sandwiches, but it would have been helpful to have a picture of every sandwich – actually, there is no excuse for not having more photographs since modern photography is inexpensive and easy. Nevertheless, that is the only drawback to this cookbook. The book is well-organized, the prose is well-written, and the recipes are easy to follow. 

Besides sandwiches, there are recipes for quesadillas, grilled chicken, duck, bacon, brats, skirt steak, and fajitas. There are instructions for grilled vegetables and side dishes. Also featured are some mouthwatering desserts. While there are some traditional sandwiches, the author has outdone herself with innovative and unique combinations that many haven’t thought of yet. There are enough good recipes to keep most everyone busy for months experimenting with new meals.

If you have a Panini press, and want to take full advantage of it, this is a cookbook that you definitely need to have on your shelf. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Today I'm sharing my review for The Best of The Best Panini Press Cookbook. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. 

Just last year I found a cafe that served panini's which is when I fell in love with the sandwich, I really like the way the bread is grilled. So when I saw this book on NetGalley I knew I had to give it a try. 

I thoroughly recommend this cookbook. It has so much information. From how to clean your panini press, to which brand to buy and yes the recipes as well.  Some of my favorites were "turkey-apple pannini with fig and gruere", "Chicken Ceasar Panini" and "Antipasto Panini".  I saved so many recipes ideas from this cookbook, but honestly I really want to buy it soon. It has so many unique sandwich ideas.  I have yet to cook them for my partners, but have personally used some of the tips from this cookbook. 

The one thing I wish the cookbook had more of was pictures! Just because I like a cookbook with a lot of pretty pictures, but it wasn't really a big deal.

I gave this cookbook 4 stars on Goodreads.