This Bacon-Blueberry Caramelized Onion Panini is absolutely as divine as it sounds, and you won’t be able to get enough!
Have you ever won anything? Anything you absolutely love? Anything so special, you might not want to share?
If you’ve ever sampled Kerrygold products, you probably feel the same way.
I recently had the opportunity to enter a Kerrygold giveaway. Now before you start thinking “I knew her when,” my winning had nothing to do with my culinary skills. I was randomly chosen. (I must have good karma or something, because I hit the jackpot with this one.)
Not only did I win the most incredible selection of Kerrygold cheeses and butters, but with that came a Breville Panini Press.
I’ve never had a panini press, and it’s pretty fantastic. I’ve used it every single day since it arrived. (Seriously.) It’s been used for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and my 9-year-old son now requests that I use it daily for the sandwich that goes in his school lunch.
I chose Kerrygold Dubliner in this panini because I love the subtly sweet, tangy and nutty flavors with the saltiness of the bacon and the peppery bite of the arugula. Though it can crumble nicely, it’s also a creamy cheese that melts beautifully.
And like all Kerrygold products, Dubliner is made with milk from grass-fed cows and without any growth hormones.
Disclaimer: I tend to get very enthusiastic when I like something — especially to do with food. While Kerrygold sends me product to recipe test with from time to time, this is not a sponsored post. I have a hard fast rule that I only share things here that I truly like. Since I like to keep my blog positive and upbeat, it’s not likely that you’ll ever hear about specific products I don’t like. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” right? (You can however, always feel free to email me at Valentina [at] cookingontheweekends [dot] com, to ask me how I feel about products you’re curious about I haven’t written about.)
*If you don't have a panini press, please see bottom note.
- 2 strips applewood smoked bacon
- 2/3 cup onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons dried wild blueberries
- 2 (approximately 6-inch) soft baguettes/rolls
- about 12 thin slices Kerrygold Dubliner cheese
- 2 cups loosely packed arugula washed and dried
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Add the bacon to a small sauté pan over medium heat. Cook until it's brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the bacon -- but not the bacon fat -- from the pan. Set it aside to drain on a paper towel. Now add the onion to the pan and turn the heat to medium-high. Stirring frequently, cook until the onions are nicely caramelized, about 10 minutes. Crumble the bacon and mix it into the onions, along with the dried blueberries. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and set aside. Preheat a panini press.
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Slice the baguettes in half, lengthwise. Place the bottom halves, round side down, on a clean, dry surface.
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Add 3 slices of the Dubliner cheese to the bottom two baguette halves. Then add half of the onion mixture, followed by half of the arugula. Top each one with 3 more slices of the Dubliner, and then close each one with the top half of the baguettes.
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Once the panini press is ready (most have a green light - much like a waffle maker), place both sandwiches on the bottom "plate," and close. Most presses will take about 5 minutes. (I lift the lid a bit when I think it's getting close to check.)
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Serve!
Yes, you can still make this delicious sandwich without a panini press. You can use a sauté pan, carefully flipping the sandwich over halfway through the cooking, and pressing it down from time to time, with a flat-bottomed metal spatula.
Aimee says
Wow, Valen – that looks like it’s absolutely bursting with flavor!
valentina says
oh it is! 😉
Linda says
I’m going to order a panini press right away–after checking
with Costco. This looks like the perfect gift for me from me!
valentina says
Linda, you’re the best! XO
Ash-foodfashionparty says
The panini is so beautiful and filled with a ton of flavor.
valentina says
Thank you, Asha. 🙂
Deb says
What a great win! And an even better panini! Bacon, blueberries and caramelized onions are a very appealing pairing of flavors!
valentina says
Thank you, Deb. It might be the best thing I’ve ever won — or been given. 🙂
Margot C says
Ha Valentina! I was already there given that for reasons you very much know I am very familiar with Dubliner (always available at Trader Joe’s). I don’t have Panini Press (note to Santa ::ahem::!) but I make grilled cheese in a cast iron pan that I smash with a casserole dish while cooking that we loosely call ‘Cubans’ around here.
I have been making a popular one with the Dubliner, some Pancetta crisps, butter cooked Morels and Arugula – so similar without the nice sounding fruit note in yours. Dubliner is the prince of cheeses! (sorry Gruyère is still King of cheese to me). Plus it always makes me think of James Joyce; whom I love, so I can feel literary and eat cheese simultaneously.
valentina says
Margot, I was so happy to win the Kerrygold giveaway! And when I saw it, I was even happier I was able to give it away, too. I’m also a HUGE Gruyère fan, and I agree that’s it’s the King. I love the way it melts so perfectly, and the flavor is so exceptional! 🙂
Coco in the Kitchen says
Dubliner is one of my fav cheeses!
This panini looks CRAZY delicious, V. Can’t wait to try it. xoxo
valentina says
Thanks, Colette — Dubliner is soooo yummy!
David says
Valentina – you always create wonderful dishes using the most unusual (yet tantalizing) combinations! I will definitely be caramelizing some onions with blueberries soon!
valentina says
David, I love the word “tantalizing” when talking about food. Thank you. 🙂