Italian Hero Sandwich

Submitted by Michigan Dreamer

"This is the sandwich to make when you want an attention grabber! At a good Italian delicatessen, you'll be able to find the peppers and sliced meats as well as a crusty loaf that will hold all the fixings. Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Outdoors Series,Picnics and Tailgates,by Diane Rossen Worthington (Time-Life Books, 1998)."

 

• Ready In: 20mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• Italian Hero Sandwich

• 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard
• salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Italian bread, with sesame seeds,about 24 inches long,cut in half lengthwise
• 1⁄2 cup seeded and chopped pepperoncini pepper
• 1⁄2 cup seeded and chopped cherry pepper
• 2 cups finely shredded iceberg lettuce
• 4 tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 5 ounces thinly sliced salami
• 5 ounces thinly sliced capicola
• 5 ounces thinly sliced cotto salami
• 5 ounces thinly sliced mortadella
• 5 ounces thinly sliced provolone cheese

directions

1. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oregano, mustard, salt and pepper.
2. Stir to mix well.
3. Whisk in the olive oil until incorporated.
4. On a work surface, lay out 3 long pieces of plastic wrap, placing them side by side and slightly overlapping.
5. Place the bottom half of the loaf over the wrap.
6. Spread the pepperoncini and cherry peppers over the bread.
7. Scatter evenly with the lettuce and layer with the tomatoes.
8. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the dressing.
9. Layer the meats, one at a time, over the tomatoes, making sure to distribute them evenly.
10. Top with a layer of provolone cheese.
11. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the cut side of the top of the loaf.
12. Place on the layered sandwich and enclose in the plastic.
13. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 4 hours to develop the flavors.
14. To serve, unwrap the sandwich and slice into large pieces about 3 to 4 inches wide.

Reviews

[katendaisy]

This was absolutely delicious. Keep in mind that you can be flexible with the meats and cheeses - every deli does it their own way. I can't get the good stuff where I live now, so I just used Genoa salami, cracked pepper turkey, provolone, and Lacey Swiss. Some places use ham or prosciutto or pastrami, some put mozzarella; use what you can find and what sounds good to you. Thanks so much for this recipe, the dressing was exactly what I was looking for!

 

[Kay D.]

Yum-O! I did it a little differently, but the results were spectacular! Instead of letting the sandwich have a rest in the fridge, I brushed the dressing on the bread, added the meat, and added cheese on each side of the bread. Then I broiled the sandwich just until the cheese was golden and bubbly. Mmmm! This makes you want sandwiches for dinner every night! Thanks! :)

 

[ColoradoCooking]

I used a flavored Italian loaf. Getting ready to make this again for a picnic in the mountains.

 

[italian]

It seems to be delicious, but we have never eaten something called "Italian hero" in Italy. Foreigner people are sure to eat real Italian food abroad, but in Italy that kind of foodstuff doesn't exist.

 

[MichelleOnTheLake]

Now this is my kind of sandwich!!! I could have eaten another one! I left out the mustard, and I added a 1/2 tsp. sugar in with the oil and vinegar. I also added in a few shakes of Italian seasoning. The combination of meats were excellent, and right on when it comes to a true "Hero" sandwich. My grandmother would be proud :) I will make these again soon! Thanks for sharing!