Chicken and Spinach Panini

Savor the perfect blend of tender grilled chicken, fresh spinach, and rich, melty Canadian cheese, all pressed between golden, crispy panini bread. This hearty, satisfying sandwich highlights the creamy goodness of Canadian dairy, making it a wholesome and delicious choice for lunch or a quick dinner.

Preparation time 25 minutes

Cooking time 20 minutes

Yield 4 servings

Recipe created by Stefano Faita

Panini
- 3 cups (750 mL) chicken breast cut in strips and grilled
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves of clove garlic minced
- 1 1/2 cup (375 mL) cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) black olives pitted and sliced
- 1/2 cup (250 mL) baby spinach
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 whole wheat baguette cut in 4 or 4 small ciabatta buns or flatbreads
- 4 slices Canadian Swiss type cheese
Sauce
- 3/4 cup (180 mL) Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp (45 mL) sour cream
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Juice from half a lemon
- 1 small Lebanese cucumber finely diced
- Salt

Begin by seasoning chicken strips with salt and pepper, then brush with a little olive oil on all sides. Grill the chicken in a skillet then set aside.
In a skillet, heat the olive oil and begin sautéing the onion and garlic. Add cherry tomatoes and olives and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Add spinach, remove from heat, stir and let cool. Set aside.
For the sauce, mix together the yogurt, sour cream, garlic, lemon juice and cucumber. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Cut the ciabatta in half and lightly grill or toast. Distribute the chicken evenly on each ciabatta, followed by the Swiss cheese, tomato mix and top with the yogurt sauce.

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