Grilled Shrimp BLT Panini with Herb Aioli
Ingredients
- 1 lb large shrimp peel and deveined, tails off
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 slices country bread or sourdough, or 6 ciabatta rolls, cut in half lengthwise
- 12 lettuce leaves
- 3 tomatoes, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 slices bacon, cooked to crispy perfection
For the Aioli
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Juice of half lemon
- 3 tablespoons drained capers, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon scallions, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- For the herb aioli, in a bowl combine the mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, capers, basil and scallions. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the shrimp with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat a grill or a grill pan to medium high. Cook the shrimp on the grill 2 -3 minutes per side or until cooked through and opaque at the center. Remove from the grill.
- Cut each ciabatta roll half lengthwise and toast them lightly on the grill or grill pan.
- To assemble, spread both sides of the ciabatta bread with some of the herb aioli. Working with the bottom slice of the ciabatta bread, stack 2 lettuce leaves and 3 tomato slices. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Top with shrimp (about 6 pieces) and 2 bacon slices per sandwich. Top with the other half of the bread. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shrimp: Frozen shrimp (thawed) works as well as fresh shrimp. Keep in mind that the fresh shrimp sold at supermarkets has been previously frozen. Thaw in the fridge for about 2 hours or in a colander under cold, running water (depending on size, it thaws in about 8-10 minutes).
- Don't overcook the shrimp: Shrimp are perfectly cooked when they turn pink and curl into a loose “C” shape. That’s your cue to turn off the heat. If they curl tightly into an “O,” they’re overcooked and can become rubbery.
- Bacon: Cooking bacon in the oven is my absolute favorite way to get crispy bacon without making a mess in the kitchen.
Nutrition
Calories: 483 kcal, Carbohydrates: 32 g, Protein: 13 g, Fat: 34 g, Saturated Fat: 8 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14 g, Trans Fat: 0.1 g, Cholesterol: 34 mg, Sodium: 763 mg, Potassium: 416 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 5 g, Vitamin A: 4142 IU, Vitamin C: 18 mg, Calcium: 101 mg, Iron: 3 mg
