Ultimate Submarine Sandwich
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:47 pm
Food (chocolate) was mentioned in another recent post, and I realized that I didn't remember seeing any other posts specifically about food, on this message board. And I do log onto a couple of other message boards that are mostly about food, so that's an ongoing interest I have. I tend to think that eating is more likely to be on the minds of Archive members than are other things that are subjects of message boards I frequent, like cryptozoology and woodworking. So, I thought I might start an innocuous and possibly mouth-watering thread about a frequent mealtime construction in my household--the sub sandwich. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to see what others put into these sandwiches.
My own thought on the basics of the sub sandwich is, that the best roll to use is sourdough. This is partly because, if you want to make a big sub, sourdough doesn't actually taste stale for a day or more, and you can eat the back half of a sourdough sub as leftovers. Which is one reason why I sometimes make a sub out of a full size French sourdough loaf. If it's too thick, it's always possible to take a slice out of the middle lengthwise, and use that slice for toast in the morning. I'm not sure if the crusty California-style sourdough is available back east, but that's the type I normally use. The flutes are a nice size for a sub, if you don't want to make a really big sandwich, although they are sometimes crustier than most people prefer.
I'm somewhat iconoclastic in laying down the first layer on the bun. Most people use lettuce, as crisp as possible. If I'm making the sandwich for myself, I use alfalfa sprouts a lot of the time instead of lettuce. However, I have to admit I'm the only one in the house that prefers the sprouts. If I'm making subs for everybody, I use Romaine if it's in the refrigerator.
Well, anyway, what does anybody use for the lunchmeat and deli meat layers, the cheese layer, the fresh veggie layer, the pickled veggie layer, and the dressing or sauce layer? Here, people sometimes even add a crunchies layer with corn chips, potato chips, onion rings (canned), or anything else of that type that's around.
And I have to admit, sometimes we just buy a bunch of subs at Subway or Vons, and bring them home, douse them with dressing, and chomp in. But somehow the ones you make yourself always seem better.
My own thought on the basics of the sub sandwich is, that the best roll to use is sourdough. This is partly because, if you want to make a big sub, sourdough doesn't actually taste stale for a day or more, and you can eat the back half of a sourdough sub as leftovers. Which is one reason why I sometimes make a sub out of a full size French sourdough loaf. If it's too thick, it's always possible to take a slice out of the middle lengthwise, and use that slice for toast in the morning. I'm not sure if the crusty California-style sourdough is available back east, but that's the type I normally use. The flutes are a nice size for a sub, if you don't want to make a really big sandwich, although they are sometimes crustier than most people prefer.
I'm somewhat iconoclastic in laying down the first layer on the bun. Most people use lettuce, as crisp as possible. If I'm making the sandwich for myself, I use alfalfa sprouts a lot of the time instead of lettuce. However, I have to admit I'm the only one in the house that prefers the sprouts. If I'm making subs for everybody, I use Romaine if it's in the refrigerator.
Well, anyway, what does anybody use for the lunchmeat and deli meat layers, the cheese layer, the fresh veggie layer, the pickled veggie layer, and the dressing or sauce layer? Here, people sometimes even add a crunchies layer with corn chips, potato chips, onion rings (canned), or anything else of that type that's around.
And I have to admit, sometimes we just buy a bunch of subs at Subway or Vons, and bring them home, douse them with dressing, and chomp in. But somehow the ones you make yourself always seem better.