Italian Grinder Salad Sandwich (Printable)

Crispy rolls piled high with deli meats, melted cheese, and a tangy vegetable salad in creamy Italian dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Bread & Cheese

01 - 4 hoagie or sub rolls, split
02 - 4 slices provolone cheese
03 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese

→ Meats

04 - 8 slices Genoa salami
05 - 8 slices deli ham
06 - 8 slices mortadella or turkey
07 - 8 slices capicola

→ Salad Mixture

08 - 2 cups iceberg or romaine lettuce, finely shredded
09 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced
11 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
13 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
14 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
18 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
19 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

20 - Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
21 - Grated Parmesan cheese

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat your oven broiler for melting cheese and toasting rolls.
02 - Lay open the rolls on a baking sheet and layer each with provolone and mozzarella cheese slices.
03 - Place under the broiler for 1–2 minutes until cheese starts to melt and bread is slightly toasted. Remove from oven.
04 - Arrange salami, ham, mortadella or turkey, and capicola evenly onto the bottom half of each roll.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini, cherry tomatoes, and black olives.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
07 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss until thoroughly coated.
08 - Pile a generous portion of the salad onto the layered meats, then sprinkle with cracked black pepper and Parmesan if desired.
09 - Top with the other half of the roll, press gently, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The magic happens when warm melty cheese meets crisp cold salad, creating textures that keep every bite interesting
  • You can customize the meats and veggies based on what's in your fridge, making it perfect for last minute dinners
02 -
  • Dont walk away from the broiler even for a second, because that cheese goes from perfect to burnt faster than you'd believe
  • Let the salad mixture sit for just 5 minutes after tossing so the flavors marry and the lettuce softens slightly
03 -
  • Toast the rolls under the broiler empty first if you want extra crunch, then add cheese for a second quick melt
  • Let the sandwich rest for 2 minutes after assembling so the flavors can mingle and the heat can redistribute

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