The Veggie Recipe

Name: Evan’s Deli & Brews The Veggie Recipe
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.5 cups yellow onion; 2 cups cremini (brown) mushrooms; 0.5 cups hot cherry peppers (or pickled hot peppers), sliced; 1 cups sweet bell pepper (red or green), thinly sliced; 2 tbs olive oil; 1 tbs unsalted butter; 1 tsp kosher salt; 0.5 tsp black pepper, freshly ground; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, for umami); 1 cups iceberg or romaine lettuce, thinly shredded; 1 cups ripe tomato, thinly sliced; 0.5 cups black olives, sliced; 4 each white American cheese slices; 2 each hoagie rolls (6–8 inch) or sub rolls; 2 tbs mayonnaise (optional); 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Inspired by Evan’s Deli & Brew

Time35m

Serves2

Grilled onions, mushrooms, hot peppers, sweet peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, white american cheese

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Ingredients

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Steak-style Veggie Filling

1 1/2 cups yellow onion

2 cups cremini (brown) mushrooms

1/2 cups hot cherry peppers (or pickled hot peppers), sliced

1 cups sweet bell pepper (red or green), thinly sliced

2 tbs olive oil

1 tbs Unsalted butter

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, for umami)

Fresh Toppings

1 cups iceberg or romaine lettuce, thinly shredded

1 cups ripe tomato, thinly sliced

1/2 cups Black olives, sliced

Cheese & Bread

4 each white American cheese slices

2 each hoagie rolls (6–8 inch) or sub rolls

Finishing & Seasoning

2 tbs mayonnaise (optional)

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Method

Steak-style Veggie Filling

Prepare vegetables

Clean and slice vegetables: thinly slice the yellow onion, wipe mushrooms and thinly slice, core and thinly slice the sweet bell pepper, and slice the hot cherry peppers. Aim for uniform thickness so they cook evenly.

Heat pan

Place a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Allow butter to melt and foam but not burn (about 30–45 seconds).

Cook onions

Add the sliced onions to the hot pan in an even layer. Season with half the salt and a pinch of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5–7 minutes.

Add mushrooms and peppers

Add the mushrooms, sweet bell pepper, and hot peppers to the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir to combine and spread into a single layer. Allow to sear without moving for 1–2 minutes to develop color, then continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms have released moisture and everything is nicely browned and tender, about 6–8 more minutes.

Season and finish

Lower heat to medium. Add remaining salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce if using. Stir and cook 1 more minute to incorporate flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning. If mixture seems too wet, cook another 1–2 minutes to evaporate excess liquid. Keep filling warm in the pan on the lowest heat setting while you prepare bread and cheese.

Cheese & Bread

Preheat oven broiler or a countertop broiler-safe oven to high (or preheat a skillet over medium-low for melting). Split the hoagie rolls lengthwise, leaving a hinge if desired. Lightly butter or brush the inside faces of the rolls if you like (optional).

Divide the warm veggie filling evenly between the two rolls, piling it onto the bottom halves. Arrange 2 slices of white American cheese over the hot filling on each sandwich so the cheese melts from the residual heat. If using an oven broiler, place assembled sandwiches on a baking sheet and broil 1–2 minutes until cheese is melted and edges of rolls are toasted—watch closely to avoid burning. Alternatively, cover the pan with a lid for 1–2 minutes to help cheese melt.

Fresh Toppings & Assembly

Spread mayonnaise (if using) thinly on the top half of each roll. Top the melted-cheese covered filling with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, and sliced black olives, dividing evenly between sandwiches.

If you prefer the fresh toppings chilled, refrigerate lettuce and tomato until assembly time to keep them crisp. Sprinkle a small pinch of red pepper flakes over the filling for extra heat, if desired.

Close the sandwiches, press gently, slice in half if desired, and serve immediately while the filling is warm and cheese is melty.