Mediterranean Turkey Pesto Sandwich

Craving that iconic Starbucks Turkey Pesto Panini but want to save money and enjoy it from the comfort of your home? Look no further! This delightful copycat recipe allows you to recreate the incredibly delicious and perfectly hot turkey panini sandwich with minimal effort. Requiring only 5 simple ingredients and just 10 minutes of your time, this flavorful sandwich is the ultimate solution for an easy, satisfying lunch or a quick, fuss-free dinner. Prepare to elevate your sandwich game and experience gourmet taste on a budget!

The Ultimate Starbucks Copycat Turkey Pesto Panini

While grabbing a sandwich at Starbucks offers undeniable convenience, imagine replicating that beloved Starbucks Turkey Pesto Panini at home with almost the same speed, but for a fraction of the cost! This recipe isn’t just about saving money; it’s about crafting a sandwich that bursts with fresh, vibrant flavors, rivaling and perhaps even surpassing its coffee shop counterpart.

Whether you’re specifically seeking an authentic copycat of the popular Starbucks sandwich or simply a spectacularly delicious turkey sandwich to utilize leftover Thanksgiving turkey, you’ve arrived at the perfect place. Our Turkey Pesto Sandwich recipe is remarkably simple, requiring just five core ingredients, yet delivers an explosion of taste. The secret to its incredible flavor profile lies in the quality and synergy of these carefully selected components.

The foundation of this extraordinary sandwich is the ciabatta roll. Known for its airy, open texture and subtle tangy flavor, reminiscent of a mild sourdough, ciabatta transforms wonderfully when pressed into a panini. It develops a perfectly crispy, golden crust while maintaining a soft, chewy interior, providing an utterly satisfying bite that complements the fillings beautifully.

For the cheese, we opt for provolone. This semi-hard Italian cheese is renowned for its excellent melting properties, similar to mozzarella, but it boasts a distinctly sharper and more complex flavor. This added depth elevates the overall taste experience, creating a harmonious blend with the other ingredients once melted and warm.

When it comes to the turkey, a crucial element, we highly recommend using black pepper turkey. Its peppery notes add a fantastic zest and warmth that perfectly enhances the other components of the sandwich. This recipe is also incredibly versatile, making it an excellent way to repurpose any leftover turkey from a festive dinner. Alternatively, for those seeking a truly gourmet experience, you could prepare a homemade smoked turkey breast or a whole smoked turkey, thinly slice it, and integrate it into this magnificent creation.

The sandwich is finally brought to perfection with a generous spread of basil pesto. This vibrant green sauce contributes a rich, herbaceous, and savory umami flavor, along with a delightful saltiness. To balance this, we add roasted red peppers, which introduce a wonderful sweetness and a hint of tang. The thoughtful layering of these key ingredients results in a sandwich with an incredible depth of flavor, proving that gourmet taste doesn’t have to be complicated, even with just 5 simple components!

Key Ingredients for Your Perfect Turkey Pesto Sandwich

Crafting this exceptional turkey pesto panini relies on selecting the best quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each element plays a vital role:

• Sliced Turkey: For ultimate convenience and flavor, head to the deli counter at your local grocery store and request thinly sliced turkey. While any flavor works, we highly recommend a black pepper turkey for its added aromatic kick, which wonderfully complements the pesto. Using deli turkey ensures this recipe comes together incredibly fast. If you’re fortunate enough to have leftovers from a holiday turkey dinner, thinly slice and use that instead for an extra special touch. The moistness and rich flavor of home-cooked turkey can make an already great sandwich even better.
• Provolone Cheese: This cheese is a melting champion, making it perfect for a hot panini. You can easily purchase it pre-sliced in a package from the dairy section, or ask for it freshly sliced at the deli counter for optimal freshness. Provolone’s slightly sharp, nutty flavor is more pronounced than mozzarella, adding an essential layer of complexity to the sandwich.
• Roasted Red Peppers: These sweet and smoky peppers are a game-changer, adding a burst of vibrant flavor and a beautiful color. You can find jars of roasted red peppers in the international or condiments aisle of most grocery stores. For those who enjoy a DIY approach, learning how to make roasted red peppers at home is a rewarding experience. A crucial tip for preventing a soggy sandwich: always press the roasted red peppers between two paper towels before adding them. This simple step removes excess liquid, ensuring your panini remains perfectly crisp and delicious.
• Basil Pesto: The heart of this sandwich’s flavor! Basil pesto brings a rich, aromatic, and savory profile that is simply irresistible. For the freshest taste, consider making homemade basil pesto using fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil. You can prepare it up to two weeks in advance and store it in the refrigerator. If time is short, a good quality store-bought pesto is perfectly acceptable. When buying pre-made pesto, look for refrigerated brands like Rana, often found in the deli section, as they tend to have a fresher taste compared to shelf-stable varieties.
• Ciabatta Rolls: The ideal bread for this panini. Ciabatta rolls are celebrated for their distinctive porous texture and chewy crust, which crisps up beautifully under heat without becoming overly hard. You’ll typically find them in the bakery section of most major grocery stores. If ciabatta isn’t available, or you fancy a change, focaccia rolls offer a similarly soft yet sturdy base, while slices of sourdough bread can provide an even tangier flavor and a wonderfully crisp exterior when pressed.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions to Build Your Panini

Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions to create your perfect Turkey Pesto Panini at home. For the precise ingredient quantities, please refer to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

1. Assemble the Sandwiches: Begin by carefully spreading a generous layer of basil pesto on the inside of both the top and bottom halves of each ciabatta roll. Next, place a slice of provolone cheese directly on top of the pesto on each bread half. On the bottom halves of the bread, layer the prepared roasted red peppers (remembering to blot them dry!) and then stack a good portion of the thinly sliced turkey. Finally, complete each sandwich by placing the top halves of the ciabatta rolls, with their pesto and provolone, onto the turkey layer.
2. Grill to Perfection: Preheat your indoor grill or panini press according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once hot, carefully place two sandwiches at a time onto the grill plates (or as many as your appliance comfortably holds without overcrowding). Gently press the sandwiches to cook for approximately 4-5 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the cheese is wonderfully melted and gooey, and the ciabatta bread has achieved a beautiful, golden-brown, and crispy exterior.

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Turkey Pesto Sandwich

Make a Starbucks copycat Turkey Pesto Sandwich at home for a fraction of the price! This hot turkey panini sandwich is incredibly delicious and even easier to make. You only need 5 ingredients and 10 minutes to whip up this flavorful sandwich recipe for an easy lunch or dinner!

Servings:

4
sandwiches

Prep Time:

5 minutes
mins

Cook Time:

5 minutes
mins

Total Time:

10 minutes
mins

Author:

Whitney Bond

Course:
Main Course, Sandwich

Cuisine:
American, Italian

Ingredients

• 1
  pound
  sliced turkey,
  either deli turkey, or leftover turkey
• 8
  slices
  provolone cheese
• 4
  slices
  
  roasted red peppers
  
• ½
  cup
  
  basil pesto
  ,
  click link for homemade recipe
• 4
  ciabatta rolls,
  or focaccia rolls

Instructions

• Spread 1 tablespoon basil pesto on the inside of each piece of bread, then place a slice of cheese on top of the basil pesto on each piece of bread.
  
• Press the roasted red peppers between two paper towels to release any excess liquid. Add a slice of roasted red pepper to half of the slices of bread. Top with thinly sliced turkey.
  
• Place the other pieces of bread with basil pesto and cheese on top of the turkey to form four sandwiches.
  
• Heat a panini press, then add the sandwiches to the panini press and cook for 4-5 minutes.
  

Notes

• To make the sandwiches without a panini press:
  • Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat on the stove.
  • Heat another large skillet (either non-stick or another cast iron skillet), on the stove over medium-high heat.
  • When both skillets are hot, add the sandwiches to the large skillet over medium high heat. Remove the large cast iron skillet from the heat, and place it directly on top of the sandwiches in the other skillet.
  • Cook for 4-5 minutes.
• If you don’t have a cast iron skillet available, I recommend cooking the sandwiches like a grilled cheese. Simply add them to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
• The sandwiches can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, until you’re ready to cook them.
• You can also serve the turkey pesto sandwiches cold, but I do recommend trying them hot, as they’re best when the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
502
kcal
(25%)



Carbohydrates
32
g
(11%)



Protein
33
g
(66%)



Fat
26
g
(40%)



Saturated Fat
10
g
(50%)



Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g



Monounsaturated Fat
4
g



Cholesterol
84
mg
(28%)



Sodium
1873
mg
(78%)



Potassium
475
mg
(14%)



Fiber
1
g
(4%)



Sugar
2
g
(2%)



Vitamin A
965
mg
(19%)



Vitamin C
0.5
mg
(1%)



Calcium
353
mg
(35%)



Iron
1
mg
(6%)

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