This Italian Pressed Sandwich is jam-packed with layers of deli meat, cheeses, aioli, tapenade, and fresh herbs, all sandwiched between two slices of delicious focaccia bread. It makes the perfect meal on its own and is easy to slice up in any size for parties, picnics and gatherings.
You can choose to use our fluffy, homemade focaccia or go with a store-bought loaf for extra ease. Either way, this Italian picnic sandwich is delightfully delicious and full of flavor.
When it comes to sandwiches, we like them hearty and packed with all the tasty things! Toppings, condiments, seasonings, and quality ingredients add so much to your everyday sandwich and can make all the difference between a “just okay” sammy and one you’ll crave.
This one- just like our Hot Meatloaf Sandwich and our Tri-Tip Sandwich– is meaty with bold flavors that take center stage. It is portable and makes a fantastic picnic sandwich.
What is a pressed sandwich? A pressed sandwich is made with a bread loaf or baguette that is sliced in half and loaded with all sorts of great ingredients. The sandwich is then tightly wrapped and kept in the refrigerator pressed by a heavy object; this helps the flavours blend together.
Some More Recipes You Will Love:
Steak and Lobster Sandwich: Surf and turf in sandwich form! Tender steak, irresistible lobster and a creamy, silky hollandaise sauce are tucked inside a fluffy garlic bread. This epic sandwich is such a treat!
Hot Reuben Sandwich: A classic Reuben with layers of sliced corned beef, tangy sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese on Rye bread. The sandwich for any season (and a family favorite!).
Chocolate Layer Cake: This is the only chocolate cake recipe you need! With chocolate in every layer, this chocolate cake recipe is incredibly easy to make and one everyone will LOVE.
There’s So Much To Love About Our Italian Sandwich Recipe! It Is:
- Extra large and meal-sized
- Ready in 15 minutes
- Easy to make
- A delicious light meal or starter
- Perfect picnic sandwich
While this Italian pressed sandwich can be a meal in itself, you can also serve slices alongside a hot bowl of soup (like our Fire Roasted Tomato Soup). Or enjoy it with a chilled side salad . Truthfully, there’s no wrong way to eat an Italian sandwich.
For this Italian pressed sandwich recipe, you will need:
- Focaccia bread, either store-bought or homemade (we have a delicious no-knead focaccia bread recipe for you!)
- Butter, softened (salted butter will have more flavor than unsalted butter).
- Garlic cloves, grated, crushed or minced
- Mayonnaise
- Deli olive tapenade
- Genoa salami, sliced
- Roasted red bell peppers, thinly sliced. You can get these in the deli or make your own grilled sweet peppers.
- Deli smoked turkey
- Sliced Provolone cheese
- Italian parsley leaves
- Thinly sliced ham
- Fresh basil leaves
Italian Pressed Sandwich – From the Test Kitchen
FAQ
What is the difference between toasted and panini pressed?
What is a pressed sandwich?
A pressed sandwich, also known as a panini, is a type of sandwich that is made with bread that has been pressed and grilled to create a warm, crispy outside and a flavorful, melted inside.
What are pressed picnic sandwiches?
A pressed sandwich is a loaf of rustic bread (like a sourdough boule) that’s split, filled with delicious layers of ingredients, and then wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight under a weight to flatten the layers and meld the flavors.
How do you make a pressed sandwich?
The key to making a pressed sandwich is using the right kind of bread. A sturdy, crusty bread, such as ciabatta or sourdough, works best for holding up to the pressing and grilling process.
What is an Italian pressed sandwich?
This Italian pressed sandwich is a hearty sandwich loaded with Italian cold cuts, cheese and seasonings. Perfect for picnics, game day parties, or any day ending with “y”. Italian Pressed Sandwiches are one of my absolute *favorite* sandwiches. They are loaded with all kinds of goodies, then pressed together so that everything melds together.