When it comes to bread, you will be hard-pressed to find a more delicious bread than panini bread!
The crusty and tasty bread is perfect for sandwiches, grilling, or enjoying as a snack. But are you also fed up with forking out for bread at the store or bakery?
Us too! This is why we are here today with the only panini bread recipe that you need! In just one hour, you too can be tucking into delicious bread that is perfect for lunches or dinners.
The recipe is incredibly easy to follow, and thanks to how fast it is, you can always find a spare hour to whip up some bread! Trust us when we say it’s worth it!
The cheap and no-knead recipe only takes one bowl and is so simple to do! Why not get the kids involved and have a fun afternoon baking bread? It’s a fun and easy recipe that delivers the perfect bread each time; what’s not love?
We think we have bragged about it long enough, don’t you? So without further ado, let’s get into it!
What is Panini?
You might be wondering, this all sounds delicious, but what is panini bread? Well, panini is Italian and translates to a simple bread roll without any filling. Panini is also the plural of the word, with the panino being the singular.
Although it refers to the roll itself, panini refers to a sandwich made from Italian bread. The bread is typically cut horizontally and filled with deli ingredients. The panini is then warmed or grilled before serving.
You find paninis served at most cafes and restaurants across the country these days.
As there are no preservatives in homemade bread, it doesn’t last as long as store-bought bread.
You can expect your homemade bread to last 1-2 days. Be sure you keep it out of direct sunlight and away from any heat to ensure it lasts for as long as possible!
What Do I Need To Make Panini Bread?
To make panini bread, you will need the following ingredients:
Four cups (500g) Flour – preferably unbleached all-purpose flour. Save a little extra for dusting too!
One ¾ cup (420 ml) of lukewarm water. Sometimes you will need more.
2 tsp Instant yeast
1 ½ tsp fine salt
½ tsp Sugar
You can add the fillings of your choice to the bread when it’s complete! Whether you are looking to make a tasty BLT, enjoy some ham and cheese, or stuff your bread with smashed avocado, the choice is yours.
Be sure to have your fillings and spreads ready so you can enjoy your panini bread as soon as it’s ready.
You can make the panini bread by swapping flour out for gluten-free flour for those following a gluten-free diet. These can be purchased at supermarkets or a health store if needed, but gluten-free options are becoming more widely available these days.
Most instant yeast is also naturally gluten-free, but we recommend checking the ingredients list before purchasing it, just to be safe!
How to Make Panini Bread
Now that we have covered what you need let’s get into how to make the panini bread!
First, preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. You won’t need it until the dough is made, but it’s better to have it heated now than to be waiting.
Make the Dough
To begin, we will need two bowls, a small one and a larger one. In the small bowl, mix lukewarm water with yeast and sugar. Let this sit until the mixture becomes foamy. In the larger bowl, combine flour and salt.
Next, pour the liquid in the smaller bowl into the dry ingredients and add the olive oil. Mix these well with a fork to ensure all the liquid has been incorporated. Once all the liquid is incorporated, we can bake the dough.
Bake Time
Turn off the preheated oven and place the dough inside the oven with the door closed. Leave the dough inside for it to rise for 35 minutes. Doing it this way creates a warm environment and speeds up the rising process for the dough.
Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel or cling film. Placing the dough in the oven to rest will let it rise quickly, without baking as the oven isn’t on.
Once the 35 minutes have passed, remove the dough from the oven and pour it onto a floured surface. Use a spatula here to help you. The dough should be fluffy and slightly bubbly now, so we don’t want to deflate it as we remove it from the bowl!
Set the oven to 440 degrees Fahrenheit for the oven to preheat. We want a hotter oven when it comes to baking the bread!
Cut and Roll
Now it’s time to cut your dough and roll it! Dust with flour and cut the dough into ten portions. Next, roll out each piece of dough, so it looks similar to the picture below. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; these are homemade, after all!
While rolling, you can liberally apply flour to the area. The last thing you want is your mix sticking to the surface!
Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place your rolls on the sheet, ensuring there is space between them. Bake them in the oven for twenty minutes. If you don’t have a fan oven, you will need to bake them for an additional five minutes; the rolls should be golden and crispy.
Once done, remove the rolls and enjoy! They are best eaten warm, but they can be stored for a few days. Ensure they are kept out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources to ensure they last as long as possible!
What Do You Eat With Panini Bread?
When it comes to filling your panini, the choice is yours! Add any filling you choose to create the perfect sandwich for your lunch or add some fries for an enjoyable dinner.
Often, panini is filled with salami, cured meat, cheese, or vegetables. These are the options that you commonly see when ordering a panini at a cafe or restaurant. Often, you will choose from these ingredients listed below:
Meat: mortadella, ham, parma ham, coppa, salami, porchetta, grilled chicken
Vegetables: lettuce, rocket, tomatoes, grilled vegetables like peppers, eggplants, and zucchini
Eggs: sliced hard-boiled eggs or frittata
Dressing: olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, and salt are the most popular dressings. Basil pesto, red pesto, mustard, or mayo are often used too.
When it comes to the fillings, you can also add vegetarian or vegan meat if you wish. You can also opt for gluten-free fillings too if you wish. When it comes to the fillings, the world is your oyster!
You can also use the bread alongside pasta dishes to dip in the sauce. Why not spread some garlic butter on the panini, too, for a tasty treat?
What Is The Best Flour For Bread?
An-all-purpose flour is the best to use when it comes to making your panini bread. Compared to other flours, it has a lower rise and a softer crumb, which is perfect for your panini! It’s also a cheap flour to purchase and is widely available too.
You can use other flours if you wish, but you will need to be careful. Different wheat flours have different amounts of protein. The higher protein content delivers a higher amount of gluten, giving your bread a good structure, higher rise, and they tend to be chewier.
All that you want from your bread! You can experiment with different flours if you wish to, or stick to all-purpose; the choice is yours!
For those with gluten intolerance, opt for gluten-free flour. There might be a slight difference in the rise and the crumb of the bread, but the taste should be the same!
Conclusion: Panini Bread Recipe
And just like that, we are at the end of our panini-making journey! As you can see, the recipe is super simple and easy to follow and will leave you with delicious bread that you can enjoy in an hour!
Remember to preheat the oven before you begin making the dough and get ready to enjoy panini bread without needing to leave your home!
