Italian Grinders Recipes

ITALIAN GRINDER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Cook ground beef and sausage in 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes or until meat is browned. Drain off fat.
• Place meat, water, onions, bell peppers, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and garlic into slow cooker. Cover; cook on High heat setting 2-3 hours or on Low heat setting 5-6 hours.
• Spoon mixture into buns; top each with 2 pieces cheese.

ITALIAN SUBS

Steps:

• Soak the onion slices in a large bowl of cold water, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, split the bread lengthwise, then pull out some of the bread from the inside. Drizzle 2 tablespoons each vinegar and olive oil on the bottom half. Season with salt and pepper.
• Layer the cheese and meat on the bottom half of the bread. Drain the onion and pat dry. Top the meat with the onion, lettuce, pepperoncini (if using) and tomatoes. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons each vinegar and olive oil and sprinkle with the oregano. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle the cut side of the bread top with the remaining 1 tablespoon each vinegar and olive oil, then place on top of the sandwich. Cut into 4 pieces.

ITALIAN GRINDERS

Steps:

• On large microwavable plate, microwave burgers uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, until thawed. In medium bowl, mix thawed burgers, cheese and Italian seasoning. Shape mixture into 16 balls.
• In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium heat. Add burger balls; cook, turning frequently, until brown. Remove from skillet; keep warm.
• In same skillet, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell peppers; cook, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender.
• Place 4 burger balls in each bun. Top with vegetable mixture. Serve with pasta sauce.

ITALIAN GRINDER

Steps:

• Slightly toast buns, with insides up, in toaster oven or oven.
• On bottom half of bun layer two slices capicola, pepperoni, salami and provalone.
• Return to oven and toast until cheese is melting and kind of bubbly (my meat starts to crisp a little on the edges) and top bun is toasty brown.
• Remove from oven and top with shredded lettuce, tomato and italian dressing.

THE CLASSIC RHODE ISLAND GRINDER

Steps:

• Brush the inside of the torpedo roll with generous amount olive oil and a drizzle of red wine vinegar.
• On one side of the roll, place a single layer of thin sliced onions, then a layer of tomato slices.
• Add as much lettuce/greens as desired.
• Continue to place layers of Italian meats and cheese on the roll.
• Top the filled side of the torpedo roll with the other side of the roll.
• Press firmly together and slice in half at an angle.
• NOTE: In R.I. the sandwich is left open and placed under a broiler or in the oven until the cheese melts. Remove and put top of roll back on and cut in half.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE GRINDERS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown sausages in oil; drain. Stir in the water, tomato paste, tomato sauce, garlic, sugar and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until meat is no longer pink., Serve sausages on buns with sauce; sprinkle with cheese.

GIARDINO GRINDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook and stir onion until it begins to soften and turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add eggplant and cook until they have absorbed some of the oil, about 1 minute. Stir zucchini into eggplant mixture and cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in mushrooms and salt; cook and stir until mushrooms are softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour Marsala wine into eggplant mixture and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until wine has reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread each ciabatta roll with 1 tablespoon garlic basil spread, 1 tablespoon garlic roasted tomato sauce, and 1 tablespoon artichoke aioli. Top with 1/4 pound mozzarella cheese. Evenly distribute the eggplant mixture among the 4 sandwiches.
• Place sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, 3 to 4 minutes.

FABULOUS ZUCCHINI GRINDERS

Steps:

• To make marinara sauce, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat (see Cook's Note). Add garlic, basil and red pepper flakes; cook and stir for a minute or two until fragrant. Stir in sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour in tomatoes with their juices and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and puree until smooth in food processor or blender.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the zucchini in butter until browned and slightly tender. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
• Spoon a generous amount of the zucchini mixture into each sandwich roll. Cover zucchini with about 1/4 cup marinara sauce per roll. Top with a handful of shredded mozzarella. Close the rolls, and wrap individually in aluminum foil.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until bread is heated through, rolls are soft, and cheese is melted.