Italian Grinder Salad Sandwich (Printer-friendly)
Hearty sandwich with Italian deli meats, provolone, and tangy crunchy salad on fresh bread.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
02 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
04 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
06 - 1/4 cup banana peppers, sliced
07 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
13 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Sandwich Assembly
14 - 4 Italian hoagie rolls or sub rolls, split
15 - 8 slices provolone cheese
16 - 8 slices Genoa salami
17 - 8 slices deli ham
18 - 8 slices mortadella
19 - 8 slices capicola
20 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
# How-To Guide:
01 - Whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy.
02 - Add shredded lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini, cherry tomatoes, black olives, banana peppers, and Parmesan cheese to the bowl. Toss thoroughly to coat all vegetables evenly with dressing. Set aside.
03 - Spread softened butter on the inside of each roll if desired. Toast under a broiler or in a hot skillet until golden brown and crispy.
04 - Arrange 2 slices each of provolone, salami, ham, mortadella, and capicola on the bottom half of each roll.
05 - Mound the dressed salad generously over the meat and cheese layers. Close sandwiches, press down gently to compact, and slice each sandwich in half. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing soaks into the lettuce just enough to make each bite perfectly tangy without getting soggy
- Five minutes of active prep time but tastes like something from a proper Italian deli
02 -
- Do not make the salad more than an hour ahead or it becomes a sad soggy situation
- The toasted bread step is what separates this from a regular sandwich
03 -
- Pat your lettuce dry with paper towels before dressing it, water is the enemy here
- Let the assembled sandwiches rest for two minutes before cutting so everything settles