• Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Blog
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Recipe Index
  • Ethnic Cuisines
    • Asian
    • French
    • German
    • Irish
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican
    • Portuguese
  • Testimonials
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
Ɨ

Home Ā» Recipes Ā» Sandwiches

January 31, 2020 · 2 Comments

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread (Panera Bread Copycat)

Copycat Recipes· Italian· Sandwiches

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • LinkedIn
  • Yummly
  • Email
Jump to Recipe -
Close up of a Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread on a white plate

Panera Bread has changed the way they make their popular Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread, but now you can make the original version at home.

Close up of a Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread

My kids LOVE Panera Bread! More specifically, their soup, salads and flatbread sandwiches. Most of the time they get the "You Pick Two" combo with a small soup and half of the Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread. 

The only caveat is that the two closest restaurants are 25 minutes away; well at least until the local branch opens after construction is finished.

Originally, the Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread used to be a panini made with Ciabiatta bread; then they switched to a flatbread version. Now, it's not even on the menu. Every Panera is slightly different though.

Some still carry this flatbread sandwich, while others have switched over to the Modern Caprese Sandwich. I'll have to try that one on my next visit because it looks amazing!

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread

I've mentioned it before, but tomato + mozzarella + basil = my FAVORITE flavor combination. That's why I have so many "caprese-style" recipes here on the blog. The flavors go with just about everything from main entrees, appetizers, salads and even breakfast. How could you go wrong with a sandwich?

Though we're a family of four, some people have asked me to make recipes for less people so this one is for two people. However, you can adjust the serving sizes for any recipe you find here at Carrie's Experimental Kitchen.

Simply click the Serving Size in the recipe card and adjust the servings number up or down. It will automatically adjust the ingredients list. How great is that! Let's get to making this sandwich shall we?

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread on a plate

Panera tomato mozzarella flatbread ingredients

For this recipe you'll need Naan flatbread, Roma tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, arugula, pesto, tomato sofrito. Naan bread can usually be found in your grocery stores bakery department.

It's flat and looks similar to pita bread, but thicker and not symmetrical in shape. It's also great for making a quick pizza too. 
Before getting started, you'll need to gather all of your ingredients. It doesn't take long to make, but you'll want to have them ready ahead of time before assembling your sandwich. First, start with making the sofrito; then make the pesto. 

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread Panera Copycat

How do you make sofrito?

Sofrito, as made for this recipe, is a tomato based sauce made with small cut vegetables and spices that have been braised. I know someone is going to read this and say "This is not how you make sofrito." And they will be right.

However, I don't like peppers and when I've eaten this sandwich at Panera Bread, they don't use peppers in their version or I would have known it immediately. Since this is a copycat recipe, I'm making it the way my tastebuds tell me they made theirs. 

To make this sofrito you'll need Roma tomatoes, garlic, onion, paprika, red wine vinegar and EVOO. Start by cutting the vegetables into small pieces. Heat the oil in a small skillet; then add the cut vegetables.

Cook until the vegetables start to soften; then add the paprika and vinegar and cook for another 5 minutes. When cooked down, it becomes thick like a sauce or spread. This can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

Classic Basil Pesto

How do you make pesto?

Next, you'll want to make the pesto. You can use store bought pesto or make homemade pesto. I made a quick homemade version with just basil, garlic, grated Pecorino Romano cheese and EVOO and left out the pine nuts.

Add all ingredients into a mini food processor and pulse until smooth. It only takes about 3 minutes and tastes a lot fresher than store bought. Now it's time to make the Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread. Doesn't this look amazing?! 

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread on a plate

 

How do you make Panera Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread?

Now that we have all of our ingredients in order it's time to assemble our sandwich. You'll need a panini press or if you don't have one, you can use a stove top grill pan; then place something heavy on top of the sandwich to press it down while cooking. A brick covered in foil, or a heavy bottomed pot will do the trick. 

Heat your panini/grill press to the highest temperature. Place your Naan bread on a flat surface; then spread the prepared pesto on half of the bread. Top with sliced tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella cheese, arugula; then some of the sofrito.

Fold the sandwich in half; then repeat for the second sandwich. Spray your grill press with cooking spray on the top and bottom, add your sandwich (or both if its large enough), close the lid and press down on the sandwich for about 5 minutes or until the sandwich is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey! 

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread

This Panera Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread was SO good and I was sorry I didn't make more. Even though there are a few steps to making this recipe, it goes pretty quick and only took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Now that I can't get this sandwich at Panera any longer, I'm sure I'll be making it for my family at home more often. ~Enjoy! 

Close up of a Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread on a white plate

More Panera Bread Copycat Recipes

  • Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
  • Napa Almond Chicken Salad
  • BBQ Chicken Salad 
  • Turkey, Apple and Cheddar Sandwich
  • Apple Salad
  • Broccoli &Cheese Soup

VISIT THE RECIPE INDEX TO SEARCH FOR MORE RECIPES BY CATEGORY.

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread

Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread (Panera Bread Copycat)

Carrie's Experimental Kitchen
Panera Bread has changed the way they make their popular Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread, but now you can make the original version at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Entree
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 2
Calories 535 kcal

Equipment

  • Grill/Panini Press

Ingredients
  

For the Sofrito

  • 1 Roma Tomato, small dice
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Onion, small dice
  • ¼ teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

For the Pesto

  • 2 cups Fresh Basil
  • 1 clove Garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

For the Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread

  • 2 Naan Flatbreads
  • 1 Roma Tomato
  • 4 ounces Sliced Fresh Mozzarella
  • 1 cup Arugula
  • Prepared Sofrito
  • Prepared Pesto
  • Cooking Spray

Instructions
 

For the Sofrito

  • Cook until the vegetables start to soften; then add the paprika and vinegar and cook for another 5 minutes. Makes ¼ cup.
    (This can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.Ā )

For the Pesto

  • Add all ingredients into a mini food processor and pulse until smooth. Makes ¼ cup.

For the Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread

  • Heat your panini/grill press to the highest temperature. Place your Naan bread on a flat surface; then spread the prepared pesto on half of the bread. Top with sliced tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella cheese, arugula; then some of the sofrito.
  • Fold the sandwich in half; then repeat for the second sandwich. Spray your grill press with cooking spray on the top and bottom, add your sandwich (or both if its large enough), close the lid and press down on the sandwich for about 5 minutes or until the sandwich is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey!Ā 

Nutrition

Calories: 535kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 20gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 617mgPotassium: 790mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3991IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 437mgIron: 3mg
Keyword copycat recipe, sandwich
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM

 

More Sandwiches

  • Roast Beef Slider with Brown Gravy
    Roast Beef Sliders with Brown Gravy
  • 20 Slider Recipes collage photo
    Slider Recipes
  • This panini made with creamy Brie cheese and sweet seedless raspberry jam makes a tasty lunch or quick dinner sandwich.
    Brie and Raspberry Jam Panini
  • A close up of Grilled chicken pesto panini
    Grilled Chicken Panini with Classic Pesto
Previous Post: « Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Pretzels
Next Post: Pork Chops Pizzaiola »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. D says

    June 26, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    I worked at Panera and one ingredient in the original sandwich that’s missing is that we would use the juice of 1 lemon slice after the sandwich was cooked! We’d also add the arugula after the sandwich was cooked, in order to keep the arugula fresh!

    Reply
    • Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says

      June 27, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      Thanks for the tip!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Not sure what to make for dinner? The ingredients for a quick and easy family-friendly home cooked meal are right in front of you. Join me as experiment with new recipes sourced by local, fresh ingredients. Enjoy!

Let's Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Stay up to date

Categories

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Carrie's Experimental Kitchen

  • 342