Tucked away on top of a hill in Clinton, NY, sits one of my favorite places on earth. This picturesque oasis is called Hamilton College. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Hamilton, it’s a tiny (but mighty) liberal arts school with some of the best academic programs the entire country.
From 2008-2011, I had the pleasure of working there, getting to know the students, the campus culture and most importantly, their life-changing Mango Brie Panini sandwich. Hands down, this is one of the most memorable sandwiches I’ve ever had in my entire life. It’s crunchy, sweet, tangy and creamy all at once. Despite my many attempts to score the recipe from the Cafe Opus employees (that’s the on-campus restaurant you can order it from), they continue to keep it hush hush.
Over the weekend, I got this overwhelming craving for this sweet and savory sandwich. I was determined to re-create it on my own and wouldn’t stop until it was perfect. After 3 different attempts, I think I created a nearly perfect copy-cat recipe and I’m excited to share it with the Hamilton College alums as well as my readers who haven’t experienced the phenomena that is Mango Brie Panini.
This recipe involves 5 simple ingredients and I can guarantee that you’ll be making this again and again.
Mango Brie Panini (an homage to Hamilton College)
Ingredients
- French Bread cut into two 4-6 inch pieces
- 1/2 Onion caramelized
- 1 Mango sliced thin
- 6 slices Brie Cheese
- 4 tbsp Garlic and Herb Spread of your Choice I found that goat cheese worked really well
- A panini press or a George Foreman Grill
Instructions
- Cut your bread in half the long way. I like to leave one of the sides uncut (like they do at subway), so the filling doesn’t spill out everywhere.
- Spread 2 tablespoons of the garlic/herb spread on each piece of bread.
- Layer on a scoop of the caramelized onions (use half per sandwich).
- Carefully place your mango and 3 slices of brie inside the sandwich. I prefer to push these deep into the sandwich (towards the uncut) end because they will pop out when you press it.
- Place your Mango Brie Panini into a panini press or George Foreman Grill and wait about 5-10 minutes. You will know the panini is done when the brie is melted, the sandwich is nearly flat and the bread is crunchy.
If you went to Hamilton College, please share this post with all of your alumni friends! While it might not be the EXACT recipe used at Cafe Opus, it’s pretty darn close to perfect.
If you didn’t go to Hamilton…
1) I’m sorry because it’s the best school ever
2) Give this recipe a try because it’s truly impressive.
Also, if it’s not already happening, let’s be friends on social media! You can find me on Instagram (@everythingerica), Facebook, Twitter AND Pinterest.
Love always,
Erica
Wow! This sounds so simple and amazing!