Panino Number 5

Who said that the humble panino cannot be a gourmet triumph? I made this for lunch today and it was just delicious. Try it out and tell me what you think!

Panino number 5 (serves two people)

• Cut a red pepper (capsicum) in half, clear it from the seeds and crap, pierce it with a fork several times and slam it on the grill (one of those press grills is ideal). Grill it until it is perfectly cooked, keeping piercing it and turning it every now and then to get rid of all the water. Once it's done, cut it into strips and toss it with one teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and some salt. Put is aside.
• Cut a tomato into halves. With a teaspoon remove the pulp and the seeds. Fill up the resulting empty pockets with balsamic vinegar. Grill in the same grill as the pepper until the tomato is soft and squashy;
• Cut a third of a red onion and caramelize it in a small frying pan with a teaspoon worth of butter.
• Put the caramelized onion in a bowl and toss it with two tablespoons of mayonnaise, a teaspoon of mustard and some leaves of fresh basil. Put this aside.  
• Cut some pickled cucumbers in small slices (you will need approximately 5 small cucumbers). Put aside.
• Take a chicken breast and toss it in 1/2 a lemon juice and then your favourite spices. I recommend Moroccan spices, salt and pepper. Grill it in the same grill that you have been using all along. Once cooked, cut into strips and put aside.
• Take a ciabatta bread (or your favourite bread), cut it in halves, butter both halves and add salt and pepper. Put it in the grill you have been using all along to toast whilst soaking up all the flavours.
• Once the bread is ready, take the bottom half and squash the tomatoes on top of it -covering the whole surface;
• add a layer of picked cucumbers;
• add the chicken strips and some spinach leaves;
• cover with the red onion and basil leaves mix;
• cover with strips of grilled pepper;
• Add the top half of the ciabatta.

Share with somebody or be a pig and have it all by yourself whilst shoving  down a few beers. Don't look so shocked. You know you can.