I love a good Italian sub sandwich and this recipe for a chopped Italian sub is easy to make, totally adaptable to your taste, and hey, I guess it’s a hit on Tik Tok, which must mean it’s really good, right?
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Do you love sandwiches like I do? I happen to love a good sandwich and often make amped up ones to satisfy our dinner urge.
As a child I never even ate a BLT, but discovered them as a adult and hey-there is no going back now!
Perhaps it is because when I was a kid we didn’t really eat sandwiches. The closest we came was Eckrich bologna or Hebrew salami on Jewel white bread with a spread of mayonnaise.
We didn’t take our lunch to school-we ate cafeteria food.
There were no sub shops in Kankakee that I knew of. If my father wanted a good corned beef sandwich he had to drive to Chicago.
So as much as I search my memory bank I really remember no sandwiches from my childhood, though my brother used to order an Italian beef with our delivery pizza or perhaps a pork tenderloin.
Table of Contents
Which bring me to this Italian deli sandwich. Italian hoagie. Homemade Italian grinder. Whatever you want to call it.
The first time I had one of these was when I worked at a sub sandwich restaurant in Fort Collins.
If I remember correctly, the name of the place was McDonald Family Poor-boy Subs, and it was located on College Avenue.
It also served fresh broasted chicken.
In a side note: this was also how I met Manservant. His roommate worked there and we became friends and eventually this is how I met my mate!
It was also how I learned to make a homemade Italian sandwich! One had a name like the Depth Charger and that’s about as far back as my memory serves me.
However it was there that I learned to appreciate a good Italian deli sandwich!
Why I Love This Chopped Italian Sub
Besides the fact that this sub is totally delish, it can be made from your favorite ingredients.
Don’t have provolone? Use mozzarella. You get the picture!
I love that I can mix up the ingredients and store them in the fridge and then fill my bread when I am ready.
I also love that this chopped Italian grinder can easily become a chopped Italian sub salad or a chopped hoagie salad. No bread? No worries.
And I love that this chopped Italian sub sandwich is the perfect vehicle to use my homemade Italian giardiniera. But don’t worry if you don’t have it, store bought works fine, as do banana peppers.
This is the best chopped Italian sandwich I know of!
Chopped Italian Sub Sandwich Recipe Ingredients
3 Types of Italian Salami: Pepperoni, Genoa and Soppressata
Capicola Ham: I used turkey because someone ate the ham! And feel free to use prosciutto, copa or speck
Provolone Cheese: I used a basil/garlic version from Trader Joes- Mozzarella works as do many of the non-Italian varieties of cheese such as Cheddar
Roasted Red Peppers: I think these add a ton of flavor!
Iceberg Lettuce or Romaine
Red Onion
Banana Peppers, pepperoncini or giardiniera
Chopped or sliced tomatoes are also often found on a sub, but I think it tends to make this easy Italian sandwich mushy so if you love tomatoes, add them after.
Italian Sub Sauce:
Mayonnaise
Basil pesto or my oregano pesto would be a fun change, too.
Red Wine Vinegar
Capers
Italian Parsley
Italian Seasoning/Onion Powder/Oregano/Salt/Pepper
4 Rolls: Italian bread, ciabatta, I used Mexican bollilo rolls, French bread or hoagie rolls
How To Make This Italian Chopped Sandwich Recipe
Chop or slice into strips the salami, ham and cheese, peppers and lettuce. Slice the onion thinly and combine in a large bowl. Add the banana peppers, pepperoncini or giardiniera. At this point, with a bit more lettuce you have created a chopped hoagie salad!
This also makes a great antipasto salad to serve as an appetizer. If you really do want to make an antipasto salad, I ususally cut everything into larger chunks and leave out the lettuce and serve with toothpicks. You can add just about anything such as olives, sun-dried tomatoes, cherub tomatoes, artichoke hearts, etc! Just put a bowl of dressing in the middle for dunking!
Make the chopped Italian grinder sauce by combining the mayonnaise, pesto, red wine vinegar, capers, parsley and seasonings in a small bowl. Whisk well. (If you aren’t in love with mayonnaise feel free to decrease the amount.
Add the sauce to the salami mixture and stir well. Check for seasoning and add more ingredients to this chopped Italian sub recipe if you feel they are needed.
FAQ’s
Why is a submarine sandwich called a sub?
Subs are called subs because they look like subs. Rumor has it that the sub sandwich comes from New London, CT where in WW2 it was home to the navy’s largest ship yard. It was originally called a grinder but when Italian-American immigrants who worked in the shipyards started ordering over 500 sandwiches a day the name was changed to “sub”. However since these were being made before WW2, it is just a rumor.
Why were subs called grinders?
Subs are harder to chew through than your typical sandwich so they often were called grinders.
What are the favorite types of Italian salami?
Genoa salami is usually made with pork and contains seasonings such as garlic, black and white peppercorns and red wine. It has a soft texture and is mild.
Pepperoni is seasoned with chilis and paprika and is slightly smoky.
Calabrese salami contains Calabrian peppers making it a bit spicy.
Soppresatta is a leaner salami often with a touch of clove, cinnamon and rosemary.
Toscano salami is made with red wine.
What to Serve with a Chopped Italian Sub
This quick Italian sandwich is often served with potato chips and a Diet Coke!
LOL. I made the Diet Coke part up-but that’s what I would drink with it!
French fries and onion rings are popular but if I make them at home I often serve potato salad or cole slaw.
By all means serve brownies or a giant chocolate chip cookie for dessert. That is if you make it that far!
What to make everyone’s day extra special? Nothing like a quick Italian sub sandwich that can be customized to anyone’s taste.
I used to send these for school lunches and everyone always wanted to trade with my kids!
Whatever you do, make a lot. Whether you turn this into an Italian chopped salad or just enjoy it as a chopped Italian sub, this quick Italian sub sandwich has so many variations.
Figure out what your fave is and go for it!
Preferably with a Diet Coke!
More Fun Sandwiches
Buffalo Chicken Sandwich 10 Ways
I’d love to hear if you make this recipe! Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
Recipe Card
PrintChopped Italian Sub
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Sandwiches
- Cuisine: American
Description
I love subs and this chopped Italian sub is one of my faves! Perfect picnic food and it can be customized to your tastes!
Ingredients
- 1/2 c thinly sliced red onion
- 4 oz ham, sliced into thin strips (I used some turkey)
- 4 oz
provolone, sliced into thin strips or mozzarella or your favorite cheese
- 4 oz salami of your choice
- 1 c
shredded head lettuce or romaine
- 1/3 c
sliced roasted red peppers, dried well
- 1/4 c
sliced drained peperoncini, banana peppers or giardinera
- Sauce:
- 1/3 c
mayonnaise
- 2 T
store-bought basil pesto
- 2 T
red wine vinegar
- 1/2 t each
onion powder and Italian seasoning,
- 2 T drained and chopped capers
- 2 T fresh chopped Italian parsley
-
Kosher salt
-
Freshly ground black pepper
- 4
(8″) ciabatta rolls or hoagie rolls halved, toasted
- (1 chopped tomato, optional)
Instructions
Toss onion, ham, provolone, salamis, lettuce, red peppers, and peperoncini in a large bowl.
In a mixing cup, combine mayonnaise, pesto, vinegar, seasonings, capers and parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add to chopped ham mixture and toss with a spatula or spoon until coated.
Divide mixture evenly between rolls. Serve with a Diet Coke!
Notes
Please see post above for serving suggestions and substitutions.
b
Friday 19th of July 2024
Loved this filling. We had it as a salad with toasted Ciabatta, and with a tomato feta salad. Yummy.
Abbe
Monday 22nd of July 2024
Perfect! It satisfies all my needs. Thanks B!