Breakfast Panini with Georgia Pecans,
Cheddar and Sausage

Panini are Italian sandwiches, generally pressed and pan-grilled, made with a variety of fillings, especially leftovers. While a panini-maker or grill pan is ideal for their preparation, this breakfast version, which pairs nutty pecans with a classic morning-food mixture of eggs, onions, cheese, and sausage, can also be cooked in a standard skillet.

Prep: 10 min | Cook: 25 min | Yield: 4 large panini

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter, + more for bread
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 4 fully cooked breakfast sausages (thawed if frozen), chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped Georgia pecans
• 4 large eggs, well beaten
• 8 thick slices Italian bread
• 4 ounces yellow cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. In nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Add the onions, sausages, and pecans; sauté until onions are just softened—about 3 minutes.
3. Add eggs and cook, stirring constantly, until eggs are firm but not dry. Transfer sausage mixture to plate.
4. Heat a panini maker or a grill pan over medium-high heat.
5. To make four panini, divide sausage mixture into 4 portions. Mound each portion on one slice of bread.
6. Top each with one ounce of cheddar, then a slice of the remaining bread.
7. Very lightly butter the outside of each panini.
8. Cook in batches in panini maker until both sides of each panini are golden; serve promptly. Or, if using a grill pan or skillet, cook two panini at a time, placing a heavy skillet or heat-proof dish on top to weight down panini as they cook.
9. When golden on bottom, turn panini over and grill other side until golden; serve warm.

Nutrition

Per serving (using a total of 2 tablespoons butter for all four servings): calories: 544; protein: 26g; carbs: 35g; saturated fat: 12g; monounsaturated: 14g; polyunsaturated fat: 5g; cholesterol: 273 mg; fiber: 3g; sodium: 811 mg

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Georgia Pecan Commission