I reduced it to two sandwiches because many of the recipes for Italian grinder sandwiches are designed to feed a crowd. The flavor is fully there and still excellent the next day after being chilled!
| Prep Time: | 20 mins |
| Cook Time: | 20 mins |
| Total Time: | 40 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 2 sandwiches |
Ingredients
- 2 ciabatta rolls, sliced in half
- 5 thin slices provolone cheese
- 4 thin slices deli turkey
- 4 thin slices deli ham
- 4 thin slices soppressata
- 4 thin slices prosciutto
- 16 slices mini pepperoni
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste
- 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
- 1 drizzle olive oil, or to taste
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, or more to taste
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
- ¼ head iceberg lettuce, shredded
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers, drained
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Place sliced rolls on the prepared baking sheet (if the top half of roll rocks from side to side too much, slice a tiny bit of the top off). Place 1 slice of provolone on each slice of bread. Tear up the remaining slice of provolone to cover any open bread areas.
- Bake in the preheated oven until melted (not browned), about 8 minutes. Remove from oven; leave the oven on.
- Fold two pieces of turkey onto two slices of bread. Fold two pieces of ham onto the other slices of bread.
- Layer 2 slices of soppressata on top of the turkey. Fold 2 slices of prosciutto onto ham. Place four pepperoni pieces on top of each bread half.
- Sprinkle slices with some of the Parmesan cheese. Place back into the oven and let bake until pepperoni is looking crispy, about 12 minutes.
- While slices bake, make the grinder salad. Add mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes to a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add lettuce, onion, and pepperoncinis to the dressing. Toss to coat.
- Remove sandwiches from the oven. Top 2 of the ciabatta slices with tomato slices. Using tongs, place a layer of salad on top of the tomatoes. Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.
- Place the non-salad slices on top of the salad ones. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.
- Do not make the salad too early or the ingredients can get soggy. I would add the vinegar 1 teaspoon at a time to get the taste you like. Do not go heavy on the vinegar as it makes the sauce too thin. This can be messy–have napkins nearby!
Reviews
These sandwiches – aka grinders are AMAZING!!!!! The ONLY thing I would change is to blend steps 2-5. I don’t think they need to be separate and, if they are, I think your ciabatta gets a bit overcooked/kinda crunchy. By adding cheese/meat then cook – and later add the Parmesan will get your meat toasty but not overcook your bread. The flavors ROCK! I did add the red onions and pepperocini peppers the last few min of cooking. LaDonna – these are the best sandwiches!!! Thank you!!
Ciabatta Grinder sandwich is the best tasting way to enjoy this sandwich. I never used turkey or a salad type dressing, however, I slice tomatoes in a big bowl with red onions, sliced garlic, oregano, salt & pepper, and pour olive oil over it all, and if you like a dash of red wine vinegar. Let it sit after you toss a little, then slice the bread pour olive oil on both sides squeeze the bread together then place some sliced thin salami, pepperoni, capicola and bruschetto, a slice of provolone or American cheese top with shredded lettuce and tomatoes you set aside on top. Drizzle the juice from the tomatoe salad on top of lettuce and tomatoes, put the other half of the bread on top and you have the most delicious Italian grinder along with the one you made.
Easy ingredients very tasty loved it