Sandwich is more than a ‘grab and go’ food for many of us. It is the constant thing that comes into our minds when looking for something between heavy and light food. We love sandwich, as it is easy to make just like a snack, and because it fills your stomach just like a meal.
Talking about the sandwich, we cannot help but crave our favorite panini at times. And why won’t we? Panini is our favorite snack when we are into something more food aesthetic. We love our paninis, whether we have it with meat or just the vegetarian way.
So today, let’s dig into the history and origin of our favorite panini.
How the Name Came to Be
Panini is a word that comes from the word ‘Panino,’ which is of Italian origin. Panini is diminutive from pane. English translation of the word means bread roll. Although pane means simply bread, Panino Imbottioto means stuffed bread, which is very similar to a sandwich.
However, with the recent use of the word, particularly in English, panini stands for something identical to a sandwich. In English, panini stands for a single panino only, which is the singular form of the Italian word.
We really do not mean panini as plural, though, as the original Italian word means. In English, while referring to plural numbers, we use paninis.
Origin of Panini
Electric sandwich makers were quite famous by the 1930s. People were really into grilled sandwiches in many places in the world. We can trace the beginning of the popularity of the ‘panini habit’ from this point in history.
However, as per many cookbooks and news articles, the official accounts of panini tell us that panini originated in Lombardy, Italy, during the 1960s. At that time, panintecas, or sandwich shops, were becoming popular among Milanese office workers.
The reason behind the popularity of sandwiches at these shops was that workers were looking for something to fill them up as quick lunch. The quality and flavor of the food had to be maintained at the same time.
This is how shoppers had come up with the idea to stuff heavy fillings between two quality Italian bread slices. Thus, the origin of the panini was marked in history.
Although the original or the Italian version of panini did not require grilling of stuffing or bread crusts, panini is primarily known as a grilled sandwich in America. The first reference of panini in the United States describes it as a ‘pan warmed Italian sandwich.’ The reference dates back to 1956 in an article about an Italian street fair. During the 1970s and 1980s, panini became popular in the US.
The idea that this quick-grabbing food can be really fulfilling and trendy simultaneously, thanks to patrons like Al Panino, made panini very popular in cities like New York. Soon, the rest of the states had witnessed the opening of sandwich bars offering paninis, distinctive to the flavors and styles depending on the form.
Now, there are numerous sandwich shops found everywhere in the country selling Italian-styled paninis, but we are also not surprised to find paninis even in family restaurants.
How Panini Became Popular
As mentioned earlier, the idea that made this food popular was that it was easy to grab and go. It became popular quick lunch in Italy and in busy cities where people were looking for something exotic, full of flavors, and of course, something to fill up the stomach.
Two slices of bread holding heavy stuff inside like meat, salad, and vegetables are as perfect as something two tick on the boxes mentioned above. Thus people readily accepted the new variations that came along their food tray as paninis. It became a symbolic food staple for youngsters during the 1980s and 1990s as well.
As workers and youngsters started to accept paninis as symbolic of their fast and trendy food fashion. Sandwich bars, similar to panintecas in Italy, became the meeting points of youngsters. The influence was so heavy that it brought about a new word, Paninari.
Paninari refers to individuals who are showcased as symbols of fashion-fixated, right-leaning persons. And we even have a day to celebrate our love for panini. August 11, 2015, was the first and official ‘National Panini Day.’ Now you know how popular your panini is!
How the World Eats Panini
Different states have different styles of preparing paninis. There are no hard and fast rules. But the paninis differ from the original ones in Italy than in the USA, where they are mostly grilled.
The Italian panini does not need to be roasted. Whereas, in the panini shops in the US, you are most likely to find grilled stuffing and the bread is also toasted.
The quality of bread is paramount in the making of panini. Usually, high-quality Italian bread like ciabatta or focaccia is used. These loaves of bread are dense enough to hold up the heat of the panini maker.
Literally, anything can be put as the stuffing of any flavored salami, or turkey, beef, Italian-style sausages. You can also add prosciutto, mortadella, mozzarella cheese, and fresh or roasted vegetables as per your liking.
All of these ingredients are available at Origini Italian Market online and in our Italian store in Miami. Grab your items from here, and you are all set to tackle those 4 am cravings.
Any high-quality Italian or French bread will do for your panini. But in case if you are into grilled stuffing, make sure to grill them beforehand. The panini maker will only heat the whole sandwich; it will not do the grilling. Whatever you do, eat your panini in your own style.
In case if you are already hungry reading about paninis, Click Here and find your hunger solutions in a blink. Here you will find ready-to-grab paninis with authentic Italian ingredients.
Panini Recipe
Do you have 10 minutes? Because paninis are that easy to make. We have come up with a delicious panini recipe that will surely meet your cravings. Let us create a Chicken Pesto Panini.
Ingredients
· 4 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil
· 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
· 1 tbsp of dried oregano
· 1/4 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
· Kosher salt
· Freshly ground black pepper
· 2 ciabatta rolls
· 1/4 classic pesto
· 1 thinly sliced tomato
· 4 oz. thinly sliced fresh mozzarella
Preparation
· Season the chicken with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
· Put 2 tbsp of olive oil in the iron skillet over medium heat.
· Now, put the chicken in the skillet and cook until both sides are golden.
· Remove the chicken from the skillet.
· Slice ciabatta rolls in half, and spread about ¼ of the pesto on the bottom half of each roll.
· Top with tomato, chicken, and mozzarella.
· Spread remaining pesto on the top half of each roll.
· In a grill pan, add 2 tbsp of olive oil.
· Then, place the panini and wait until the cheese starts to melt.
· Finally, flip and remove it from the pan.
Ending Notes
It is never late for a panini. Just because it takes about 10 minutes to prepare, we are not taking our paninis lightly. Grill it, toast it, or simply put the stuffing between slices of bread. The next step is to enjoy your panini!
