Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Sausage Panini

Serves 4

by Samantha Seneviratne
from Fine Cooking
Issue 105
Last Edit Date: 4/18/2012 11:35:21 AM

Chicken sausage meets the flavors of French onion soup in this quick weeknight sandwich. The sausages are available in a variety of flavors, and while just about any flavor works for this panini, your sandwich will be especially good with apple or roasted garlic sausages.

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3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced (8 cups)
1/4 cup Calvados (apple brandy)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
4 cooked chicken sausages
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
4 oz. Gruyère, very thinly sliced
Eight 1/2-inch-thick slices of crusty, rustic bread

Heat 1 Tbs. of the oil and the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, 3 Tbs. of the Calvados, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deep golden-brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Add the remaining 1 Tbs. Calvados and the thyme and cook about 1 minute more.

Meanwhile, in another 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 Tbs. of the oil until hot. Add the sausages and cook until browned and heated through, 5 to 6 minutes. Cut in half lengthwise. Keep warm.

Heat a panini press. (Alternatively, heat a nonstick grill pan over medium heat.) Meanwhile, spread the mustard on the bread and assemble four sandwiches, distributing the onions, cheese, and sausage evenly among them.

Brush the outside of the sandwiches with the remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Cook them in the panini press until browned and crisp, 3 to 6 minutes. (If using a grill pan, put a heavy pan on top of the sandwiches and cook, flipping the sandwiches once.) Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with Warm Potato Salad with Bacon, Apples & Rosemary on the side.

nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 720; Fat (g): 38; Fat Calories (kcal): 340; Saturated Fat (g): 13; Protein (g): 31; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 11; Carbohydrates (g): 57; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 1.5; Sodium (mg): 1600; Cholesterol (mg): 120; Fiber (g): 5;

Photo: Scott Phillips

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by CharlotteTraveler, 3/28/2013This was a great sandwich. I used Archer farms (yes, Target brand) chicken and garlic sausages. Added a little red wine to deglaze the onions. Sliced a little bit of Honey Crisp Apple on top. It was terrific and I want to have another!

by bunkylion, 3/28/2013This was very, very good. To the person who gave this a low rating because the sausage he/she bought wasn't good is not fair to the recipe. This sandwich rocks. It's up to you to get good sausage.

by DJ, 5/20/2012What was not to love: caramelized onion, Gruyere, Dijon, sourdough. The letdown was the chicken sausage-sadly the only kind available in my area is the pasty smooth bland kind with apple. It gives this sandwich too much sweetness. Unless I can find a chicken sausage with some zip and a better texture I'm going to use use Kielbasa or someother sausage with some zip.

by MidwesternFoodie, 10/12/2011This one didn't "wow" us. It's good, just nothing special. Won't do again.

by Kikiak, 12/9/2010This may be the best sandwich I have ever had! I made it two days in a row :)