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I’ve mentioned before that my husband Jack and I have been making a concerted effort to eat healthier foods and exercise more in these last few months! Starting a food blog has added a few inches to both of our waistlines over the last year and a half (unfortunately) – and with our daughter Courtney’s wedding coming up later this summer, we’re both trying to look and feel better by losing some weight.
So with all of this health-conscious, weight-loss effort going on at our house – it might surprise you to learn that anytime Jack or I are on the treadmill, we both usually end up watching the Food Network or the Cooking Channel on TV while we work out! (Talk about torturing ourselves – all of that yummy food that we shouldn’t eat…)
But watching one of those shows gave us the inspiration for today’s Loaded Italian Sub with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli! Jack saw a show where someone made a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and then they put pizza cheese over the top and melted the whole thing under a broiler. With our mouths salivating, we decided to try making a similar sandwich – but giving it an Italian twist of our own! This loaded Italian sub is first slathered with a wonderful roasted red pepper aioli, then piled high with Italian cold cuts including salami, mortadella, capicolla, and prosciutto, followed by slices of provolone cheese and fresh basil!
But it doesn’t stop there! The sub is grilled on a panini press, THEN a layer of fresh tomato slices are added PLUS a mix of shredded parmesan, mozzarella and muenster cheeses on top! After a final sprinkle of oregano, this incredible sandwich is put under the broiler in the oven until the cheese melts and starts to turn a wonderful golden color!
This loaded Italian sub with roasted red pepper aioli is part Italian cold cut sub – part panini – part pizza and 100% delicious!
And – in case you are wondering – Jack and I did eat a small portion of this sandwich after we took these photos! (We split that slice you see right above here between the two of us. Everything in moderation – right?) Then the rest was given away to grateful family members who live nearby and have been enjoying our blogging food leftovers!
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Loaded Italian Sub with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
Note: This recipe makes more aioli than is needed for this sandwich. Also note: You will need a panini press or a flat grill pan for this sandwich.
Ingredients
For the Aioli
- 2 large sweet red bell peppers
- 1 head of garlic
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
To Make the Sub
- ½ loaf of Italian or French bread at least 3 inches wide and a foot long
- ¼ pound sliced Genoa salami
- ¼ pound sliced Italian Mortadella
- ¼ pound sliced sweet or hot (your preference) capicolla (also known as capocollo, or coppa)
- ¼ pound thinly sliced prosciutto
- ¼ pound aged good quality provolone cheese, sliced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, divided
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan Reggiano
- 1 cup shredded Scamorza mozzarella or regular mozzarella (but avoid using a very wet fresh mozzarella)
- ¼ cup chopped Muenster cheese (buy ¼ pound sliced and chop by hand)
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
To Prepare the Aioli
- Line a medium pan with foil and place both whole peppers with stems attached onto the pan.
- Cut the top and bottom off a head of garlic and place in a small pocket made from a piece of foil. Drizzle one tablespoon of oil and one tablespoon of water over garlic and pinch the foil pocket closed. Place this foil packet on the pan with the peppers. Roast for ten minutes and turn peppers one third, roast for ten more minutes and turn another third then roast for ten more minutes and remove from the oven. (If the skin isn’t charred all around, roast for another five minutes until nicely blackened and charred.)
- Raise the oven temperature to 550 degrees.
- Immediately place whole red peppers into a large zipper seal bag and seal to steam the skins off. Allow the peppers remain in the plastic bag for ten minutes, then take them out of the bag and place them on a cutting board. Peel the skin off and discard. Then split the peppers down the middle, remove stems and seeds and place the roasted flesh of the peppers into a blender (the peppers collect moisture inside while roasting, try not to add this excess liquid to the blender). Remove the roasted garlic head from the foil pouch and squeeze out the roasted cloves into the blender, adding them to the peppers (you may want to use a tiny piece of foil to squeeze the garlic out of the skin so you don’t burn your fingers).
- Add the mayonnaise to the blender and set to puree. Lift off the cap and slowly drizzle in 3 tablespoons of olive oil with motor running until mixture is thick and creamy.
To Prepare the Sandwich
- Take the top crust off the 12 inch loaf by running a bread knife just below the top. Next split the loaf horizontally in half so you have two open halves. Spread two tablespoons of the aioli on each inside cut.
- Then begin layering the cold cuts on the bottom half and finish with the provolone. Top with half of the basil leaves and place the top half of the bread over the basil pressing the aioli side down over the basil.
- Heat the panini grill to hot or heat a grill pan on the stove. Brush one tablespoon of olive oil on the top half of the sandwich and brush the other tablespoon of olive oil on the panini press or grill. Place sandwich on heat over brushed oil and brown both sides, pressing down slightly to flatten sandwich. Heat until the bread is nicely browned.
- Line a small sheet pan with foil and place the grilled sandwich onto the foil.
- Lay the other half of the basil leaves and all of the sliced tomatoes over the top of the browned top of the sandwich.
- Mix the Parmesan, mozzarella, Muenster and oregano in a small bowl and spread over the basil and tomatoes (Try to get the cheese to stay in place by pressing down with your hands).
- Place the pan in the hot oven for 5-7 minutes to melt and brown cheese. To brown further, place under a broiler for a few minutes.
- Serve by cutting into four even pieces. Great served with the roasted red pepper aioli on the side as a dipping sauce.
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Made this last weekend for a crowd of people alongside some tomato basil soup. Was a huge hit. Will definitely make again. Will also use the aioli recipe over and over. Super good!
Thanks Ashley! So glad the recipe was a hit with your family and friends!
5 stars! The aioli alone was super! The whole thing together was to die for! I used regular bologna instead of mortadella, and ham and salami. So yummy! Everyone loved it!
Thanks Holly! So glad you all enjoyed the sub!
Lol. I have learned 3 things since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (controlled for 10 years now with weight loss and diet). #1 There is nothing I can’t eat in moderation. #2 There are somethings I can’t be moderate about. #3 Don’t bring #2 in the house. 😉
You are a very wise woman Sandi! 🙂 Again – great advice! Thanks for visiting our site today!
You two have more self control than I. That entire sandwich would’ve ended up in my belly! Darn this foodblogging waistline 😉
Oh – I know Nicole! I’m 20 (20!) pounds heavier since starting our blog! Thanks for stopping by today!
This sandwich is the bomb Martha! All of that amazing flavor – how could anyone resist? Pinned!
Thanks Trish!!
I LOVE this sandwich Martha! That glorious melted cheese, mmm mmm. That ailoli sounds fabulous!
Thanks Tanya!!
OMG Martha! I don’t know if it’s the pictures, or the recipes…..no, it’s the recipes because I’m a foodie-at-home…….You and Jack make the most AMAZING food! I’m always looking for something a little different, but not crazy, and you always deliver. I’m so impressed with you both and your blog. Please keep up the good work. 🙂 It has to be hard to not eat everything in sight! Maybe a second blog in which you cook “healthy” ?????
Thank you so much Heather – you’ve made our day! 🙂 Our readers definitely seem to prefer the cheesier and more indulgent recipes on our site! Funny you should suggest it – we have thought about a second blog…if only we had the time! Thanks again for taking the time to write to us! Have a great weekend! Martha
I love this! I think it’s important to enjoy foods you love while eating healthy most of the time. I don’t feel bad about indulging once in a while when I have eaten well and exercised! Pinning this!
Thanks Kathy! (I agree!) 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Ha, I love that you work out while watching food tv! This sandwich has me salivating already!!
Thanks Anna! (I know…sort of crazy that we do that to ourselves!) Thanks for visiting us today!
Oh my word, Martha!! This is incredible! My husband would devour this 🙂
Thanks Lyuba! It took all of our willpower to not devour it ourselves!! (You know…diet and all…)