Italian Grinder
My husband’s favorite sandwich in the world is an Italian grinder from a place called Gambino’s in Moscow, Idaho where we went to college. He was recently really sick with a terrible head cold so I tried to re-create this sandwich in hopes it would make him feel a little less miserable. It has salami, pepperoni, ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pepperoncini, Italian dressing, and crushed red pepper on a crusty hoagie bun. It turned out amazing (I had a bite or two)! I don’t know if it was as good as Gambino’s, my husband’s too nice to say, but he did say that he loved it! When I asked if I could have made it any better he replied that a bit more crushed red pepper would make it perfect. I have to say, this may be MY new favorite sandwich too!
How to Make an Italian Grinder
Spread mayonnaise on each side of the hoagie bun. Layer each side of the hoagie with ham, salami, and pepperoni then layer the provolone cheese down the center. Place into the broiler (on low) and cook, watching carefully, for 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Place the lettuce down the center followed by the tomatoes and pepperoncini. Drizzle the top with Italian dressing, to taste, and a sprinkling of sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and crushed red pepper, to taste. Serve immediately. Enjoy.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Crusty hoagie
- Mayonnaise to taste
- Ham
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- 3 slices of provolone
- Finely shredded lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Pepperoncini
- Italian dressing to taste
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- Crushed red pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to broiler setting.
- Spread mayonnaise on each side of the hoagie bun. Layer each side of the hoagie with ham, salami, and pepperoni then layer the provolone cheese down the center.
- Place onto a baking sheet under the broiler (on low) and cook, watching carefully, for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Place the shredded lettuce down the center followed by the tomatoes and pepperoncini.
- Drizzle the top with Italian dressing, to taste, and a sprinkling of sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and crushed red pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy.
Side Note: I have been nominated for the Top 25 Foodie Moms for 2012 on Circle of Moms! Please feel free to vote for me here if you want (no pressure). Thanks for your support!!!
Awwwww aren’t you such a sweetie, taking care of C!?!
The vote link didn’t work for me, it too me to a 404 link on your blog.
Voted, and that looks DELISH!
Hi Pam,
I have been enjoying your recipes for the past week, I loved the Lemon Orzo Salad recipe! thanks for providing this simple Italian sandwich, I have voted for you with confidence! Good luck, I will also pin it so people can discover your creativity.
o boy…isn’t that just mouthwatering!
Awesome way to make your husband feel better. I’ll have to make this for Jason. He is going to love it, especially because he is obsessed with pepperocinis!
Congratulations, I just voted for you!!! My son in law’s brother went to college in Moscow too. The sub looked great!!
Hi Pam,
I wonder why I could never succeed making this Italian Grinder
How did you do it? I’ll try again for sure and this time I’ll refer to your recipe as my guide 🙂
Thanks also for the tempting food photos. Looks like they were made by professional. Have you ever heard about food photography site called http://www.foodporn.net ?
Your pics should be on the Food Porn home page, that’s for sure!
He is so right! He has got a fine gourmet taste! I agree: this is also a perfect sandiwh for me too! 🙂 Really wonderful in flavours! Yum Yum Yum!
Lovely gesture from you 🙂 I enjoy making food that brings happy memories to people who are feeling low, and getting them to let a smile come out in a blue day! This sandwich looks delicious!
Oh my…my husband will love this sandwich! Great job, Pam! Now- I’m off to vote for you! 🙂
I love Italian grinders… plus, any sandwich with pepperocini is my kind of sandwich!! Going to vote for you now… 🙂
It looks amazing!Love it!
This looks delicious, Pam. I’m headed to vote now! Have a fabulous day.
Holy Yum! That sandwich looks like something I want to eat right now…for breakfast! I love sandwiches! And Congrats on the nominee! I will be voting for ya!
Thank you for calling it a grinder!
That looke really good Pam, especially with the warmed meat and cheese
you know i’m so guilty of having just a condiment sandwich because i love the hots so much.
Of cours<e I will vote you are one of my favorites and nice blogs! Love this sandwich!!
Congratulations on your nomination, Pam! You most certainly deserve the award and you have my vote! Thanks for sharing this mouthwatering sandwich too… My husband loves the same kind of flavors in a sandwich, too. Great recipe!
I wonder why they call them grinders.
That is not a grinder. Sorry I was born in 1935 in New LONDON, Conn. An grew up eating grinders. An they still make them the same way today as my parents made them. What u see today r knock offs.
You have my vote! I think you are most deserving of the award. The grinder looks amazing. I always leave your site hungry and with cravings!
A classic!
We always have sandwiches like this catered at family functions/parties! SO GOOD. Of course I’ll vote for you my love!
Sounds so delish! But, I knew I had to comment and give some love…. from an Idaho girl! Love your blog!
Yum, this is my kind of sandwich.
Sorry to hear that your husband hasn’t been feeling well, how wonderful that you tried to recreate his favorite sandwich to lift his spirits. I know a favorite dish would definitely ease my discomfort. The sandwich looks delicious. Whether or not it is as good as the original, I’m sure he was touched by the gesture.
I love that someone else calls them grinders! I grew up in SE Connecticut, and I can’t call them subs or hoagies or anything else. Now I’m craving an Italian grinder… and home!
Yes, however “grinders” were created in New England so you get the best but a grinder is hot.
That is so funny! I read your blog all the time and had no idea you wentt to college in Moscow (also where I went). When I saw the “Italian Grinder” title I was like, “Huh, Gambino’s has that…” Small world.
However, a “grinder is a hot sandwich” what you’ve described is a submarine or hero.
Sella’s in Pullman, wa just across the border needs an honorable mention on this thread.
Probably great sandwich, but true Italian grinder is just ham – hard salami – provolone – crusty roll- all toasted in oven and broiled at end to brown cheese. Yum!
Then adding mix of chopped iceberg – pepperoncinis – onion. top with oil and vinegar. Heaven! Thanks for reminding me of my meal today!
I can never remember the ingredients used for the Italian Grinder. This is all of them with the exception that I also add Prosciutto along with the ham, salami, and pepperoni. Also be sure not to substitute the authentic Italian hoagie roll. Love that crunch after it been under the broiler.
AWESOME!!!! Everyone was super satisfied! I had never heard of Pepperoncini but forever it will be in my fridge next to my sub sandwich oil. I may make this grinder again tomorrow. I did two weeks: I baked on 400 for 5 mins instead of broiler and I used chopped salad mix instead of lettuce.
Catrina,
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
-Pam