Italian hoagie style pressed picnic sandwiches take any picnic from boring to fabulous in one simple bite.
July is National Picnic Month, which is incredibly appropriate considering it is the warmest month of the year. And sure, maybe you don’t necessarily feel like slogging your goodies all the way to the beach in the oppressive heat. Or perhaps you aren’t into bugs and ants that undoubtedly swirl around any blanket or sheet you may lay down on top of a grassy area in your local park. If you put aside all the minor annoyances, however, picnics are awesome, especially if you can round up a great group of friends and family and encourage them all to bring their own fabulous dishes and drinks.
I’ve wanted to make a pressed picnic sandwich for years but never had much reason to do so. And so this Sunday Supper event with Gallo Family Vineyards is basically the picnic of my dreams, the one I’ve truly been waiting for all year long. Gallo asked a few of us to come up with our best picnic wares to celebrate this month and I could not be more excited to see what everyone is bringing to the party. I of course brought the pressed picnic sandwich.
Now, if you know me well, you may be wondering why I didn’t bring a traditional hoagie. Here’s the answer: I just can’t. I’m a stubborn Northesterner and I can’t handle the conversation that will ensure over hoagie vs. sub vs. grinder. To me, it is and always will be a hoagie. Lingo and jargon aside, the flavors of a traditional Italian hoagie do me in every dang time. I cannot resist spicy capicola, stacked provolone and all the trimmings. I think pressed picnic sandwiches are meant to be classy foods but hey, I gave it a Philly spin by filling that fancy sandwich with all my favorite Italian hoagie ingredients. It goes perfectly with Gallo’s Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep richness of the wine doesn’t overpower but perfectly compliments the sandwich. And their mini bottles are completely picnic-ready, easily fitting into your adorable basket that you’ve no doubt packed. If you aren’t a deep red fan, try their Pinot Grigio with this as well, either works perfectly!
The fun part about a pressed sandwich – besides stuffing it in your face – is in the preparation. You layer all of your ingredients onto the bread, make sure to pile ‘em sky high. Place the lid on top and then press between some heavy books. It causes the sandwich to collapse a bit, become this tiny bite so packed with flavor, you’ll wonder how all of that deliciousness managed to be in one bite. Plus the pressed sandwich makes you look more dignified – no ingredients falling all over our shirt. Try one and eat with dignity!
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Ingredients
- 1 large loaf of Italian bread
- 2 Tbsp. hoagie oil (found in the deli at your grocery store)
- 8 slices capicola
- 8 slices Genoa salami
- 8 slices ham
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- 1/4 yellow onion, finely sliced
- 2 to 3 large lettuce leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Begin by cutting your bread down the middle. Spread the hoagie oil over top of one half of the bread.
- Layer the capital on the bread, followed by the salami, ham and cheese. Top with onions and lettuce then place the second half on top.
- Wrap the sandwich in plastic wrap, then place a very heavy book on top (a dictionary works well). Let it sit for an hour, pressing the sandwich down.
- Place sandwich in the fridge until ready to slice and serve.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Sunday Supper posts for a full picnic menu!
Picnic Appetizers:
- 10 Deviled Egg Variations by Sunday Supper Movement
- Thai Spiced Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce by Soni’s Food
Picnic Main Dishes:
- Baked or Grilled Tandoori Chicken Legs by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- BBQ Pulled Pork Picnic Sandwiches by Family Foodie
- Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwiches by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- French Ham and Butter Sandwich (Jambon Buerre) by Shockingly Delicious
- Grilled Honey Chicken Kabobs by Life Tastes Good
- Italian Hoagie Style Pressed Picnic Sandwiches by Feed Me, Seymour
- Kimbap (Korean ‘Sushi’) by Curious Cuisiniere
- Picnic Sandwich Torte by Palatable Pastime
Picnic Salads and Sides:
- BLT Panzanella Salad by Casa de Crews
- Cold Chinese Peanut Noodles by Recipes Food and Cooking
- Lemon Chicken Penne Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Mason Jar Salmon Nicoise Salad by Simply Healthy Family
Picnic Sweets and Desserts:
- Banana Pudding Jars by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Blueberry Crumb Bars by Alida’s Kitchen
- Blueberry Peach Snack Cake by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Key Lime Cheesecake Crumb Bars by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- Lemon Meringue Pie in a Jar by Desserts Required
- Simple Strawberry Pie by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Southern Fried Apricot Hand Pies by Magnolia Days
Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.
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