Description
Hearty Italian sandwich from stanley tucci’s kitchen blends classic Mediterranean flavors with simple, fresh ingredients. Bread, prosciutto, and arugula combine for a delightful meal you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 2 slices sourdough or crusty bread
- Butter for spreading (amount not specified)
Protein and Cheese Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh mozzarella ball
- 3 slices prosciutto
- 1 handful grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or gruyere)
Seasoning and Garnish Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil pesto
- 4–5 fresh basil leaves
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm a skillet over low-medium heat, ensuring even temperature distribution for consistent toasting.
- Generously spread softened butter on one side of each bread slice, creating a golden crisp exterior.
- Place the first slice on the work surface with unbuttered side facing up, then carefully construct layers of flavors: sprinkle grated cheese as the foundation.
- Delicately arrange thin slices of prosciutto over the cheese, followed by creamy fresh mozzarella pieces.
- Gently tuck fresh basil leaves across the surface, then drizzle pesto for an aromatic burst of herbal complexity.
- Lightly season the assembled layers with a pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
- Crown the sandwich with the second bread slice, ensuring the buttered side faces upward for optimal browning.
- Carefully transfer the assembled sandwich to the preheated skillet, allowing it to sizzle and transform.
- Cook for approximately 5 minutes on each side, monitoring the heat to achieve a perfectly crisp, golden-brown exterior and fully melted cheese interior.
- Remove from heat, let rest momentarily, then slice diagonally and serve immediately while warm and crispy.
Notes
- Swap prosciutto with turkey or tempeh for a lighter protein option that still delivers rich flavor.
- Choose sourdough or gluten-free bread to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising taste.
- Use high-quality aged cheddar or gruyère for deeper, more complex cheese melting and enhanced sandwich profile.
- Control heat carefully to prevent burning; medium-low ensures golden-brown exterior and perfectly melted interior cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg