| | | | | | |

Italian Grinder

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!

Italian Grinder

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.

Italian Grinder

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.

Italian Grinder

 

Italian Grinder

Italian Grinder

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 1
Author: Pam / For the Love of Cooking

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.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @4loveofcooking on instagram and hashtag it #4loveofcooking

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!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




40 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Congratulations, I just voted for you!!! My son in law’s brother went to college in Moscow too. The sub looked great!!

  4. 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!

  5. 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!

  6. 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!

  7. Oh my…my husband will love this sandwich! Great job, Pam! Now- I’m off to vote for you! 🙂

  8. 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!

    1. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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!

    1. Yes, however “grinders” were created in New England so you get the best but a grinder is hot.

  11. 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.

  12. 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!

  13. 5 stars
    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.

  14. 5 stars
    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.