Grilled Smoked Salmon Panini with Red Onion Ribbons

These sandwiches are incredibly versatile. Serve them as a hearty lunch, a light dinner or as hors d'oeuvres. They can be assembled well ahead of time, making them perfect for entertaining.

Yield: Makes 4 entrée or 8 hors d'oeuvre servings

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon  Champagne vinegar
• 3  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice, divided
• 3  teaspoons  Dijon mustard, divided
• 1  teaspoon  minced garlic
• 3  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1  small red onion, halved and sliced paper-thin
• 6  ounces  cream cheese, softened
• 4  ounces  soft goat cheese
• 1/4  cup  thinly sliced green onions
• 1  tablespoon  chopped capers
• 1  teaspoon  grated lemon rind
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  loaf ciabatta, about 7 x 14 inches
• 8  ounces  hot-smoked salmon, flaked
• 3  cups  loosely packed baby spinach
• Extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

Whisk together vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons mustard, and garlic in a bowl. Slowly drizzle in 3 tablespoons olive oil, whisking constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add red onion, tossing to coat. Let stand 30 minutes (can be made ahead and refrigerated).

Combine cream cheese and next 4 ingredients. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon pepper, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and remaining 1 teaspoon mustard.

Slice ciabatta horizontally into top and bottom halves. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on both pieces of bread. Arrange salmon in an even layer over cheese on bottom half of bread; press salmon firmly into cheese. Top with spinach and marinated red onion. Place top half of bread on sandwich can be prepared in advance up to this point if kept tightly wrapped and refrigerated 4 to 6 hours).

Cut into 4 individual sandwiches. Heat panini maker or grill to medium-high heat. Brush both sides of each sandwich with olive oil. Grill about 5 minutes, or until crisp and browned. (If grilling, weigh down sandwiches with a baking sheet topped with heavy canned goods.) Cut each sandwich in half diagonally.

Note: To serve as hors d'oeuvres, cut each grilled sandwich into 3 or 4 rectangles or "fingers."