Grinder Salad Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 0.5 tsp salt (plus more for tomatoes)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
• 0.33 cup pepperoncini peppers (drained; or banana pepper rings)
• 0.33 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
• 8 oz iceberg lettuce (shredded)
• 0.5 red onion (thinly sliced)
• 2 loaf sandwich bread (such as day-old sub rolls or hoagie bread)
• 8 oz provolone cheese (sliced)
• 6 oz ham (sliced deli ham)
• 6 oz salami (sliced deli salami)
• 2 oz pepperoni (sliced)
• 1 tomato (sliced)
• black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes.

2. 2

   Stir the dressing mixture well until thoroughly combined and smooth.

3. 3

   Add 1/3 cup drained pepperoncini peppers, 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 1/2 of a thinly sliced red onion, and 8 ounces of shredded iceberg lettuce to the bowl.

4. 4

   Toss everything together until the lettuce is evenly coated in the dressing. Let the salad sit to marinate while you prepare the sandwiches.

5. 5

   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

6. 6

   Slice your sandwich bread open and lay it out on a baking sheet. Place a couple of slices of provolone cheese on each side of the bread.

7. 7

   Layer your choice of lunch meats over the cheese. The author recommends a layer of ham, a layer of salami, and a few pepperonis sprinkled on top.

8. 8

   Place the sandwiches in the preheated oven and bake for a few minutes until the bread is toasted and the cheese is completely melted.

9. 9

   Remove from the oven and sprinkle the hot meat and cheese with an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese.

10. 10

    Add sliced tomatoes over the meat and season them with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

11. 11

    Top the sandwiches generously with the prepared grinder salad mixture. Close the sandwiches, slice, and serve immediately.

Notes

The author suggests using day-old bread from a sub shop like Jimmy John's for a better texture and value. You can substitute pepperoncinis with banana pepper rings if preferred.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• sandwich
• grinder salad
• lunch
• dinner
• easy recipe
• baked
• Italian-American