Italian Combo Submarine

The key to a great grinder is to buy quality Italian meat, cheese, and fresh bread. Then, save a little time to marinate and mix and pay attention to color, texture, and flavor combinations. For example, at our house, we choose Asiago cheese, because it is creamy and mild, providing a nice balance to salty cured meats. We also enjoy adding spicy mayonnaise rather than salad dressing, because the marinated vegetables provide plenty of bite. Eric likes more meat; Amy likes more heat and crunch.

By Amy Nawrocki and Eric D. Lehman / Photography By Amy Nawrocki and Eric D. Lehman | June 13, 2019

Ingredients

SERVINGS: 2 Serving(s)

12-inch loaf of Italian bread or two 6-inch grinder rolls
Lettuce leaves

Vegetables (vary to taste)

½ cup red onions, sliced
2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
Cucumber, thinly sliced
Green, yellow, or red sweet peppers, thinly sliced
Hot peppers, thinly sliced
Black olives, thinly sliced

Marinade

¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly chopped herbs (basil, parsley, or thyme)
½ cup canola oil

Spicy Mayonnaise

½ cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
½ teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoons cayenne pepper (or chili powder)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Meat and Cheese (vary quantity to taste)

⅓ pound ham, thinly sliced
⅓ pound soppressata, thinly sliced
⅓ pound prosciutto, thinly sliced
⅓ pound Asiago cheese, thinly sliced

Instructions

Marinade

Dissolve sugar and salt in vinegar. Mix in chopped herbs, then drizzle oil slowly while whisking to emulsify. Pour over sliced vegetables (vary amount to your taste). Marinate for 30-60 minutes in the refrigerator.

Spicy Mayonnaise

Combine all ingredients for the spicy mayonnaise in a small bowl and set aside.

Sandwich Assembly

Halve bread loaf, then spilt crosswise. Spread spicy mayo on both sides. On one side, layer lettuce (one leaf is usually enough), sliced cheese and meat (4-5 slices per sandwich), and marinated vegetables. Top with second side of bread, and serve. If serving a crowd, multiply this recipe and set up a build-your-own station. If you’re like Amy (or Nardelli’s, for that matter), don’t forget a generous dousing of your favorite hot sauce.