Books > Joy of Cooking > Excerpts

SUBMARINE OR HERO SANDWICH

4 sandwiches

The hero -- also known as a submarine, bomber, grinder, wedge, zep, or hoagie -- is essentially a long, wide roll filled with deli meats and cheese. To help blend the flavors, compress the sandwiches by wrapping them tightly in foil.

Split lengthwise in half:

One 24-inch loaf Italian or French bread

Moisten the inside of the loaf generously with:

Olive oil
Red or white wine vinegar

Layer on half of the bread a combination of 3 or more sandwich meats:

About 1 pound sliced salami, prosciutto, mortadella, and/or cappicola or ham

Stack on top of the meat:

4 to 8 ounces sliced provolone
(7 ounces sliced pickled hot peppers)
(1 onion, thinly sliced)
(1 tomato, thinly sliced)
2 cups finely shredded lettuce

Cover with the top half of the bread. Serve immediately, or wrap tightly in aluminum foil and let stand for 30 minutes, under weights such as heavy cans or bricks if desired, beforeserving. Cut into 4 sandwiches.