Bring the taste of the Mediterranean to your plate with this Red Pesto and Chargrilled Pepper Panini Pizza Toast.

I used a part-baked ciabatta roll (baked before I used it!) but you can use whatever bread you have. Sour dough would work well with this, or even a plain mini naan bread. Or you can buy proper panini bread if you wish. If you’re using plain naan bread I’d either grill or cook in the oven and leave them open. 

If you don’t have any chargrilled peppers to hand you can use other pizza style toppings in place of them.

Adaptation to make this vegan

 If you’re a vegan you can use a vegan red pesto and a cheese-substitute in place of the cheese and vegan mayo.

Ingredients

• Ciabatta part-baked roll, baked in oven as per instructions on packet. Or whatever bread you have!
• Red pesto
• Chargrilled Peppers from a jar
• Mozzarella cheese (I used pre-sliced) or mature cheddar or guyrere cheese
• A sprinkling of black pepper
• A few leaves of fresh basil, optional

Method

Carefully cut the ciabatta roll in half lengthways through the middle to make two flattish surfaces
Put the bread on a baking tray with the cut side facing upwards
Spread with a little red pesto
Carefully fish a couple of pieces of chargrilled pepper out of the jar. Chop in to smaller pieces if you like.
Lay them carefully on the pesto’d bread
Cover with the cheese, a good grinding of black pepper and a few washed fresh basil leaves.
 

To Cook either 

a) Sandwich together and cook on a George Foreman Style Grill or Panini Press
b) Cook under the grill until it looks bubbly and golden
c) Put in the oven on about 200oC until bubbly and golden.
 

To Serve 

Serve with a salad and some Red Pesto Mayonaise

Red Pesto Mayonnaise

 In a small pot put two teaspoons of mayonnaise and one teaspoon of red pesto and stir.