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What Is a Grinder Sandwich?
Generally speaking, it’s a sandwich layered with different deli meats and cheeses, lettuce, some type of dressing like oil and vinegar or mayonnaise and some sort of pickled element like pepperoncini. The bread tends to be crusty on the outside and softer in the middle. It reportedly earned the name “grinder” because of how hard your teeth have to grind to chew the sandwich.
Who Calls a Sandwich a ‘Grinder’?
Where I grew up in the Midwest I knew this kind of sandwich as an Italian sub, but they’re known as grinders in parts of the East Coast and throughout New England. They can be served hot or cold, though sometimes subs are thought of as cold sandwiches and grinders as warm. You might also know them as hoagies or heroes.
How to Make A Grinder Sandwich
They’re typically served on a long roll of Italian bread, also known as a hoagie bun, though the famous TikTok grinder sandwich is served on focaccia. This recipe makes 2 grinders.
Ingredients
- 2 hoagie buns
- 4 ounces sliced provolone
- 4 ounces sliced other cheese
- 4 ounces turkey
- 4 ounces ham
- 4 ounces soppressata
- 4 ounces capicola
- 4 ounces prosciutto
- 1 handful mini pepperonis
- Parmesan cheese, to taste
- Tomatoes, sliced thin
Grinder salad:
- 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini
- 1/2 red onion, sliced very thin
Directions
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