Ingredients
- Beer Bread
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/3 cup sugar
- One 12-ounce can or bottle of beer (Gabi says cheap beer works best; I used a wheat ale)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Caramelized Onions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 white onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Panini
- 2-3 teaspoons Dijon mustard (optional)
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Preparation
Step 1
Make the beer bread:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C). Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed. Best to just mix dough with your hands. Scrape dough into prepared loaf pan. Melt butter and spread evenly across top of dough. (Makes it golden and crusty!) Bake in preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool completely before slicing.
Caramelize the onions:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions to pan. Sauté onions until they begin to wilt, then add a pinch of salt and pepper, oregano and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Cook covered until onions become soft and caramelized (about 40 minutes). Add more Worcestershire sauce to taste if you like.
Grill the panini:
Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat.
For each sandwich: Spread a little Dijon mustard inside one slice of beer bread (optional – I forgot to include it in mine – but it’ll add some nice tangy heat). Layer on half of the cheese and onions and close the sandwich with a second slice of beer bread. Brush a little melted butter on top.
Grill for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Carefully cut the sandwich in half, serve immediately and enjoy!