Spicy Turkey Avocado Panini
Nothing satisfies like this spicy turkey avocado panini when you are craving some comfort food. This simple, but scrumptious grilled sandwich has healthy ingredients and is packed full of flavor. This can easily be made without the turkey, for a delicious and satisfying vegetarian sandwich.
Want to know how it can be converted into a vegetarian panini, see our Serving Suggestions? Served with a side salad or soup, it would be a substantial lunch or even a light dinner for two. Try cutting this panini into smaller pieces and serve it as an appetizer or part of a tapas meal. Want to know 5 tips and tricks to making a good panini in under 20 minutes? Read more about it in our Blog Comments & Tips.
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RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
Recipe updated as of 3/25/22
SPICY TURKEY AVOCADO PANINI
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat an electric grill/panini press to 350°F, or heat a panini pan and press on medium heat just a few minutes before you are ready to place the sandwiches on the grill pan. Cut, remove seed, and mash small avocado in a small mixing bowl.
- Add guacamole salsa, torn cilantro, and stir until somewhat combined.
- Spread avocado mixture onto inside of both slices of bread. Place deli turkey onto one slice of bread. Place cheese onto the other slice of bread. On top of turkey, layer on tomato, pickled jalapeños, spinach leaves, and top with the remaining slice of bread. Lightly press down on the sandwich with the palm of your hand, then flip it over, so the cheese side is on the bottom.
- In a microwave, melt butter in a small glass bowl. Then with a small silicone pastry brush, evenly spread melted butter on top slice of sandwich. Place sandwich (buttered side down)in panini maker and quickly spread remaining melted butter on top of sandwich (cheese side should now be on top). Close panini maker lid, (if necessary, gently press down), and cook until heated through and cheese has melted (about 5-8 minutes).
- When the cheese has melted and there are golden brown grill marks on the bread, with a silicone turner, transfer panini onto a cutting board to rest for 1 minute, or so. Using a serrated bread knife, slice in half diagonally and serve warm.
Notes
- These flavors also go very well with chicken, so you can replace the deli turkey with deli chicken, or sliced chicken breast.
- If you prefer a milder flavor, use Monterey jack cheese as a substitute for the pepper jack. If you like very cheesy paninis, then add another slice or two of cheese and make sure to place the cheese on both slices of bread.
- The weight of the panini grill/press lid will weigh down the sandwich on its own. After a minute or so, gently press down on the panini press lid just a bit, if needed. Be careful not to press too hard that you squeeze out the filling. If your sandwich appears too thick to close the lid of your electric grill/panini press, gently press down on the sandwich with the palm of your hand while it’s still on the cutting board.
- If you don't have a panini maker, this sandwich can also be made with a grill pan or even a frying pan (like making a grilled cheese). Use another heavy pan or heavy pot to weigh down the sandwich. Once grill marks are golden brown, flip the sandwich over and continue to cook until completely warmed through and cheese has melted.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve a half panini sandwich with a simple soup or side salad for a filling lunch or a light dinner. Can also be served as an appetizer or tapas (mini paninis), when cut into smaller rectangular pieces. As a Vegetarian option, replace the turkey with a generous amount of Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack Cheese and a bit more fresh spinach and you have a deliciously fresh vegetarian spicy panini.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
871.59Fat (grams)
34.90Sat. Fat (grams)
11.95Carbs (grams)
83.29Fiber (grams)
13.20Net carbs
70.64Sugar (grams)
10.93Protein (grams)
58.29Sodium (milligrams)
1381.89Cholesterol (grams)
149.56Nutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods.
Step by Step Instructions
PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
Avocado Spread
STEP 1
Preheat an electric grill/panini press to 350°F, or heat a panini pan and press on medium heat just a few minutes before you are ready to place the sandwiches on the grill pan.
To prepare the avocado spread, complete the following steps:
a) Cut avocado in half and carefully remove seed.
b) Scoop out inside of ½ small avocado into a small mixing bowl.
c) Mash avocado with a fork until all larger chunks are gone.
d) Make sure the avocado is mashed, but not pulverized. You want some texture, sort of like a thick, lumpy paste (we know, that description is not very appetizing, but trust us, it’s delicious!).
STEP 2
To finish making the avocado mash, complete the following steps:
a) Add 1 tablespoon Herdez guacamole salsa to the mashed avocado and stir until barely combined.
b) Take a tiny bunch of fresh cilantro leaves (about 1 tablespoon packed leaves) and roughly tear the leaves with your hands. No need to chop. (see Note below).
c) Add the torn cilantro leaves to the mixture.
d) Stir gently to combine. Don’t over stir, as the mixture will become too thin and liquidy. Set aside until ready to assemble.
Note: Cilantro is optional in this recipe, as we know that not everyone likes the taste of this fresh herb. However, we highly recommend adding fresh cilantro to this mixture, as it adds a fresh green element to the panini.
Assembly
STEP 3
Assembling this sandwich is quick and easy.
a) Lay out 2 slices of San Luis sourdough deli sliced bread, or your favorite sourdough bread) and plop half the avocado mixture onto the inside of each slice.
b) Spread avocado mixture onto each slice of bread.
c) Place 4 ounces of thinly sliced deli turkey (about 6 slices) onto one slice of bread. Add 2 slices jalapeño pepper jack cheese (about 2-3 ounces) onto the other slice of bread.
d) On top of the turkey, layer 1 deseeded and sliced Roma tomato and 1-2 tablespoons of sliced pickled jalapeño. (Jalapeños are optional, but they give an extra spiciness and an added sour, savory, acidic quality to balance out the creamy and rich cheesy elements of this sandwich.)
e) Arrange ½ cup fresh baby spinach leaves on top of tomatoes.
f) Top sandwich with remaining slice of bread (easier to top with the cheese side) and lightly press sandwich with the palm of your hand, if your sandwich is too bulky. The panini maker/press will do the work to press the sandwich. Now carefully flip the sandwich over so that the cheese side is on the bottom.
STEP 4a
In a microwave, melt 1 teaspoon salted butter in a small microwave safe glass bowl. Using a small silicone pastry brush, evenly spread melted butter on top of sandwich.
STEP 4b
Carefully place the sandwich in the panini maker (buttered side down) and quickly spread remaining melted butter on top of sandwich (cheese side should not be on top). Close panini maker lid, gently press down, and cook until heated through and cheese has melted (about 5-8 minutes).
Note: Depending on your panini maker or press, it could take more or less time to heat through. If you don’t have a panini maker or press, see Note #4 below for alternatives.
STEP 5
After about 5 minutes or so, lift the lid of the panini maker to check if ready.
a) Make sure the cheese has melted and it has golden brown grill marks on the bread. If not, continue to grill.
b) With a silicone turner, transfer panini onto a cutting board to rest for 1 minute, or so.
c) Using a serrated bread knife, slice in half diagonally and serve warm.
Serving Suggestions
MEALS & VEGETARIAN OPTIONS
MEALS
This whole sandwich is a very hearty meal for one.
A half panini sandwich with a simple soup or side salad will make a substantial lunch or a light dinner for two. It’s also delicious accompanied with chicken tortilla soup or vegetable soup.
This panini can be served as an appetizer or tapas (mini paninis), when cut into smaller rectangular or wedge pieces.
VEGETARIAN
Replace the turkey with a generous amount of Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack Cheese and a bit more fresh spinach and you have a deliciously fresh vegetarian spicy panini.
Notes:
These flavors also go very well with chicken. Just replace the deli turkey with deli chicken, or sliced chicken breast.
If you prefer a milder flavor, use Monterey jack cheese as a substitute for the pepper jack. If you like very cheesy paninis, then add another slice or two of cheese and make sure to place the cheese on both slices of bread. Just be careful not to put too much cheese, or it will end up melting all over your grill pan.
The weight of the panini grill/press lid will weigh down the sandwich on its own. After a minute or so, gently press down on the panini press lid just a bit, if needed. Be careful not to press too hard that you squeeze out the filling. If your sandwich appears too thick to close the lid of your electric grill/panini press, gently press down on the sandwich with the palm of your hand while it’s still on the cutting board.
If you don't have a panini maker, this sandwich can also be made with a grill pan or even a frying pan (like making a grilled cheese). Use another heavy pan or heavy pot to weigh down the sandwich. Once grill marks are (on bottom slice is) golden brown, flip the sandwich over and continue to cook until completely warmed through and cheese has melted.
HOW TO VIDEO
Make this scrumptious panini in under 20 minutes!
Blog Comments & Tips
Nothing satisfies like a hot panini when you are craving healthy comfort food.
If you like southwestern flavors, then we think you will enjoy this delicious Spicy Turkey and Avocado Panini. This panini is easy to assemble and makes a perfectly hearty meal.
I’ve said it before, sandwiches are not typically my first choice for a meal. I don’t dislike them, but I’m usually never wowed by them. When I discovered the world of paninis long ago, it changed the game for me.
What’s not to like about gooey melted cheese, your favorite protein, and a myriad of wonderful ingredients, in between two slices of perfectly grilled sourdough bread?! What would normally be a boring sandwich, somehow transforms into a scrumptious and comforting meal that you could sink your teeth into over and over again.
Although this recipe does have saturated fat from the cheese, you shouldn’t feel guilty because this pressed sandwich is full of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, as well. Just 2 ounces of pepper jack cheese contains approximately 492 MG of calcium! Also, avocado has calcium and is full of heart healthy fats. Adding fresh veggies and lean turkey make this panini something you can feel good about eating.
The real surprise in this panini sandwich is the flavor! It’s in part due to the combination of ingredients we used, but we give credit to flavorful spiciness created by the addition of Herdez guacamole salsa in this recipe.
If you want to make it super healthy and dairy-free, just omit the cheese and replace the butter with a little olive or avocado oil, and you have a super healthy sandwich that is unbelievably tasty! But how do you make a fail-safe pressed sandwich?
Our 5 tips to making a good panini:
1) High quality ingredients
2) Sturdy bread
3) The right ratio between filling and bread
4) Do not overload your sandwich (to prevent the filling from squeezing out)
5) Using the right temperature for grilling
Of course, you can use whatever bread you would like, but we highly recommend using San Luis sourdough deli sliced bread for this panini recipe. It has great flavor and lots of body to it, which holds up well when pressed, and for the size of the bread, it is surprisingly low in calories (only 110 per slice). Using ciabatta or a French baguette are also great bread choices for making paninis. This recipe can also be made with a sturdy gluten-free bread.
There are SO many variations of this hot sandwich, the list is endless. The vegetarian option is one of our favorites. Just replace the turkey with more cheese and voilà, a scrumptious veggie panini sandwich is born! We promise to post many other flavorful panini recipes in the future. So be sure to look for our other vegetarian, vegan, and yes...gluten-free paninis, too!
Enjoy and let us know what you think by commenting below, rating our recipes, subscribing, following, and liking us on Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
Mich
Footnote: Try serving this flavorful and spicy panini as an appetizer, by cutting it into strips or smaller squares. It’s great for parties and fun to serve as part of a tapas meal.
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