There is nothing better than a hot gooey panini that slightly burns your mouth when you take the first bite! This combo with avocado pesto and bacon is a lovely blend of herbs and salty bacon flavor. The avocado has a nice creamy texture that removes the need for mayo on this panini. And no warm panini is complete without some oozy gooey cheese! Serve with a bowl of soup or a small salad for either lunch or dinner.
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Bacon and Avocado Pesto Panini’s
Makes approximately four Panini’s
Avocado Pesto
2 ripe avocados cut into chunks
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 cup of fresh basil leaves
1 tsp of salt
2 minced cloves of garlic
1/4 cup of pine nuts or your nut of choice
fresh cracked black pepper
Olive Oil
1. Toast pine nuts over medium heat until slightly browned and fragrant. And set a side in a bowl.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan.
3. Saute garlic until slightly browned and add to the nuts.
4. Mix avocado, basil, lemon juice, salt, garlic, and pine nuts into a food processor or blender.
5. Blend until smooth slowly adding olive oil until desired consistency is reached.
6. Add pepper and more salt to taste.
Panini’s
sliced sourdough bread
1 package of bacon
2 tomatoes
4 thick slices of Mozzarella
Avocado Pesto
Preheat oven to 350
1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lay out your bacon. Reserve two slices of bacon.
2. Bake bacon until desired consistency is reached.
3. Drain on some paper towels.
4. Warm a panini press or skillet on medium high.
5. Sear your reserved two slices of bacon until surface is covered with some bacon fat and remove bacon.
6. Assemble panini’s with cheese, sliced tomato, bacon, and avocado pesto.
7. Press sandwich in the press until crisp. If you using a pan, cover with a lid, and flip panini when one side is browned.
8. Slice in half and enjoy!
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Sarah is the mother of two angels, Garrett(3) and Isabelle(4), and wife to Michael. She spends her time between my family’s business, church, and her kitchen! Her husband is a chef and lured her into the kitchen and she hasn’t left ever since! Now she spends all her free time trying new recipes and creating yummy treats.
Lydia @ The Thrifty Frugal Mom says
I don’t even like avocados but your picture makes this looks so amazing that I want to make it anyway! :)
(And I know how hard it is to get good pictures of food…good job Sarah!)
Sarah Hoffman says
Thank you, Lydia! You can make it without the avocado!
cha$$ching says
This looks amazing!