The Spicy Italian Sammy Recipe

Whisk dressing

In a small bowl or jar combine red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, Dijon mustard, honey (or sugar), salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Whisk together until combined. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking (or add all ingredients to a jar and shake vigorously) until emulsified. Taste and adjust salt, pepper or acidity. Set aside at room temperature while you assemble sandwich.

If using jarred relish, skip this step. For a quick homemade spicy relish: finely chop 2 mild or hot peppers (such as banana peppers, pickled cherry peppers, or jalapeño), 2 tablespoons each of drained chopped pepperoncini and roasted red pepper if desired, and mix with 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Stir and let rest for 10 minutes to meld flavors.

Slice the Italian roll horizontally, leaving a hinge if desired. If you prefer a warm, slightly crisp sandwich, spread softened butter on the cut surfaces of the bread and toast on a skillet over medium heat 1–2 minutes per side until golden. Remove from heat.

Brush or drizzle about 2 tablespoons of the house Italian dressing onto the bottom half of the roll, spreading evenly.

Layer the meats on the bottom half in this order for even flavor: lay the prosciutto first (6 slices overlapped), then the spicy capicola (4 slices), and top with the pepperoni (12 slices). Arrange to cover the bread evenly.

Tear or slice the fresh mozzarella into 4 oz worth of pieces and arrange over the meats in a single layer so it sits evenly across the sandwich.

Top the cheese with the lettuce leaves (4 leaves), followed by the tomato slices (4 slices) and then the thin red onion rings (6 rings).

Spoon 2 tablespoons of the spicy pepper relish over the vegetables, distributing it along the length of the sandwich for consistent heat.

Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of house Italian dressing over the top ingredients (or more to taste). Season the tomato and onion lightly with a small pinch of salt and pepper if desired.

Close the sandwich, press gently to compact, and, if serving warm, return to the skillet or sandwich press for 30–60 seconds to warm through and slightly melt the mozzarella. If serving cold, simply slice on the diagonal and serve.

Cut the sandwich into two or more portions as desired. Serve immediately with extra Italian dressing and spicy pepper relish on the side.