Easy weeknight dinners: The Dave Sandwich
My husband is not a big fan of sandwiches. He will do turkey and cheese but not too much else. Several years ago I was trying to find another one that he would enjoy…this is what we came up with and it is now a serious family staple, especially during the busy work-week. I usually make some homemade steak fries and/or a green salad to go with it.
The Dave Sandwich: (recipe makes 3 large sandwiches)
Ingredients: 3 medium sized ciabatta loaves (or other “hero” sized bread), 9 thin slices of sopressata (salami), a head of broccoli, a chunk of parmesan cheese for grating, several slices of the cheese of your choice (we usually do either fresh mozzarella or pepper jack), half an onion, salt and pepper, 2 red bell peppers, 3 Tbsp olive oil.
First step is to turn your oven all the way up to 450. Rinse and dry the two bell peppers and put them on a small roasting pan or cookie sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil over them and season them with salt and pepper. Throw them in the oven and cook until they are black and blistered all over (about a half hour). When you remove them from the oven, cover them tightly with a piece of plastic wrap (while still in the roasting pan) so that they begin to steam and their skins will be easier to peel off. Then set them aside to steam away. Don’t turn off your oven, but turn it down to 350.
Meanwhile, chop your broccoli head into small pieces of florets. Slice your onion into thin slices. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp of olive oil to the pan. Toss your broccoli and onions in and saute until done (onions should be translucent and sweet, broccoli should be tender and easily bite-able). Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. When it’s done, turn off the heat.
On a large cookie sheet, open your ciabatta loaves and have them ready to fill. Remove the plastic from the steaming bell peppers. Peel their skins off and tear them into strips. Those are the first things you should put on your sammies. Then add 3 slices sopressata to each one. Top that with some broccoli and onion (use a slotted spoon so you don’t get the oil). Grate some parmesan cheese over the whole thing, then add thin slices of the cheese of your choice. Close the sandwiches. Find a heavy frying pan or something oven proof that you can place on top of the sandwiches to weigh them down. Put the sandwiches (weighed down) into the oven for about 7 minutes. Remove and eat!
For a Veggie Dave Sandwich, simply omit the sopressata…and of course you can add other veggies as well. Also, when you want a heartier sandwich, try the Chicken Dave…I grill some chicken and add that along with the sopressata, which is really delicious!
Easy weeknight dinners is published Tuesdays at noon.
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