Italian Panini with Prosciutto & Genoa Salami is a simple, filling, and delicious grilled Italian-Style sandwich. Combining crusty Italian bread, creamy ricotta cheese, fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced prosciutto, Genoa salami, fresh tender baby spinach leaves, and roasted red peppers.
The first U.S. known reference to Panini dates back to 1956 through a similar version appeared in a 16th-century Italian cookbook, the sandwiches became trendy in Milanese bars, called paninoteche, in the 1970s and 1980s. Many Trendy U.S. hotspot restaurants, in New York, began selling their versions of the Panini.
I don’t know about you, I love a good filling lunch of delicious quality Italian deli meats and fresh crusty bread grilled to perfection, and really do not always care to dine out, so making my version came about after not feeling like vacating my home to hit up our neighborhood deli when I lived up North.
Panini Sandwiches can be so versatile, so you can pretty much change it up in a second flat to suit your own tastes. Below, you will find my version of a favorite Panini made by my favorite deli in the ’90s. The ingredients should be fresh, and, of course, top quality for maxim taste and enjoyment.
Italian Panini with Prosciutto & Genoa Salami
- 1 loaf of fresh crusty Italian bread
- 6-8 ounces of whole ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese
- 8 slices of quality Prosciutto, thinly sliced
- 16 slices of quality Genoa Salami
- 2 cups of fresh tender baby spinach leaves
- 1 roasted red pepper, sliced
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- Balsamic vinegar, optional
- authentic olive oil, optional
- fresh ground pepper, optional
Directions
- Heat a Panini grill to medium-high heat
- Slice open 1 loaf of fresh crusty Italian bread down the side.
- Spread 6- 8 ounces of ricotta cheese evenly down the Italian bread.
- Thinly slice 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese, evenly distribute 1/2 of the sliced mozzarella the cheese on one side of the bread. Place 8 slices of quality Prosciutto thinly sliced on top of the cheese. Place 16 slices of quality Genoa Salami on top of the quality Prosciutto. Slice 1 roasted red pepper, layer on top of Italian deli meats. Distribute baby spinach leaves evenly across the length of Panini. Add 8 fresh basil leaves down the length of the sandwich. Drizzle a very small amount of balsamic vinegar and olive oil on bread, optional step. Place remaining thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese on the top side of the Panini.
- Season with fresh ground pepper.
- Slice into desired portions.
- Place on hot Panini grill and grill till Panini sandwich becomes evenly flattened and lightly crisped, careful not to burn, the cheese should be fully melted by the time the sandwich is lightly browned and crisp. Slice each portion or sandwich diagonally and serve immediately while hot.

Italian Panini with Prosciutto & Genoa Salami
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Fresh crusty Italian bread
- 8 ounces Whole ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 8 slices Prosciutto, thinly sliced
- 16 slices Genoa Salami
- 2 cups Baby spinach leaves
- 1 large Roasted red bell pepper, sliced
- 8 Fresh basil leaves
- Balsamic vinegar, optional
- Olive oil, optional
- Freshly ground pepper, optional
Instructions
- Heat a Panini grill to medium-high heat
- Slice open 1 loaf of fresh crusty Italian bread down the side. Spread 6- 8 ounces of ricotta cheese evenly down the Italian bread.
- Thinly slice 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese, evenly distribute 1/2 of the sliced mozzarella the cheese on one side of the bread. Place 8 slices of quality Prosciutto thinly sliced on top of the cheese. Place 16 slices of quality Genoa Salami on top of the quality Prosciutto. Slice 1 roasted red pepper, layer on top of Italian deli meats. Distribute baby spinach leaves evenly across the length of Panini. Add 8 fresh basil leaves down the length of the sandwich. Drizzle a very small amount of balsamic vinegar and olive oil on bread, optional step. Place remaining thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese on the top side of the Panini.
- Slice into desired portions. Place on hot Panini grill and grill till Panini sandwich becomes evenly flattened and lightly crisped, careful not to burn, the cheese should be fully melted by the time the sandwich is lightly browned and crisp. Slice each portion or sandwich diagonally and serve immediately while hot.
Nutrition
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11 Comments
Culinary Flavors
July 13, 2015 at 5:32 amWe eat many paninis here and I love your choice of ingredients!
homemadefoodjunkie
July 11, 2015 at 11:37 pmOh my Goodness Heidy! This sandwich is making me hungry. I love all those Italian ingredients and the panini grill. I really need to get a panini grill so I can make this yummy lunchtime treat!
joylovefood
July 11, 2015 at 11:25 amWhat a gorgeous looking sandwich, I wish I could take a big bite right now!
Marjie@homeagainjiggetyjig.com/wp
July 11, 2015 at 1:32 amWhile visiting “little Italy” in Cleveland recently with my son, I bought some Genoa salami! I’m thinking I need to try it in this little treasure of a sandwich. I sounds so very tasty!
lydiaf1963
July 11, 2015 at 12:56 amGood quality Italian cold cuts are one of life’s pleasures. Love the addition of the ricotta as well. Delicious panini!
Erlene
July 10, 2015 at 10:48 pmThis looks wonderful! I would love to eat this for lunch or dinner 🙂
betsycohen
July 10, 2015 at 10:42 pmThis is one amazingly fantastic panini! I mean, you have all of my favorite things packed in there. I want it for dinner tomorrow night!
The Foodie Affair
July 10, 2015 at 10:09 pmThe ricotta just brought this panini sandwich to a whole other delicious level! This looks way better than any restaurant panini I’ve ever had!
KC Kahn the Kitchen Chopper
July 10, 2015 at 8:23 pmWell how about that…the panini is as old as I am! 😉 Your version looks like a party, all the wonderful flavors and textures. It’s like an Italian adventure for your mouth!
Heidy L. McCallum
July 10, 2015 at 9:25 pmLOL, Thanks for dropping by KC, Oh this panini is soo darn good I could eat another tonight!
Sarah's Attic of Treasures (Includes Stories From Our Neck Of The Woods)
July 9, 2015 at 2:17 amReblogged this on Sarah's Attic Of Treasures ( Will Include Posts From Our Neck Of The Woods) and commented:
This sandwich looks so good. As usual there is history to go along with the sandwich. Another great post from Heidy.