Boston’s Italian Sub

Boston’s Italian subs, often called “spuckies” locally, are a delightful and iconic part of the city’s culinary scene. These sandwiches are a fusion of Italian-American flavors, typically featuring a variety of cured meats, cheeses, fresh vegetables, and condiments all nestled within a crusty sub roll.

Ingredients:

• 4 sub rolls (crusty Italian or hoagie rolls)
• 8 slices each of Italian cured meats (such as salami, pepperoni, mortadella, capicola)
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup pickled banana peppers
• 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
• Olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

1. Prepare the Dressing:
   • In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper, and a sprinkle of dried oregano. Set aside.
2. Prepare the Sub Rolls:
   • Cut the sub rolls in half, but not all the way through. Open them up like a book.
3. Assemble the Subs:
   • Drizzle a bit of the dressing onto the inside of each roll.
   • Layer two slices of each cured meat and provolone cheese into each sub.
   • Add a handful of shredded lettuce, followed by tomato slices, red onion slices, banana peppers, and black olives.
4. Dress the Subs:
   • Drizzle more dressing over the top of the vegetables.
5. Serve:
   • Close the subs and serve immediately. Optionally, you can wrap them in deli paper to keep everything together.