This Italian Grinder is a toasted sandwich consisting of homemade focaccia filled with melted cheeses and loads of italian meats. What sets this grinder apart is the cool and crisp grinder salad that is served inside the sandwich. Serves 4.
I’ve been making grinder sandwiches for years.
And never once did I think to blog it. Why? Who knows. It wasn’t until I was scrolling through (you guessed it) TikTok and saw several italian grinder making videos that I took it as a sign to make one.
First, a little backstory. Since we were teenagers, Pat and I have loved Mancino’s Pizza and Grinders – a local Michigan pizza and grinder shop. If by myself I would order the steak and cheese (no toppings because I was boring) and sometimes Pat and I would split an Italian. A grinder should always be a massive sandwich, loaded with meat and cheese and the bread soft yet the edges crispy. It’s definitely the kind of sandwich you never forget.
So What Exactly Is A Grinder?
It’s a form of sandwich that comes from the East Coast. Typically grinders are filled with lots of meats and cheeses and can be served warm or cold. Some say they got their name because each bite takes time to chew. However I’ve also read that these sandwiches were popular among the hardworking men that ground rivets off of metal warships. The shop owners called these men grinders and therefor named the favorited sandwich after them.
To Make This Italian Grinder You will Need:
for building the sandwich:
- focaccia or Italian bread of choice
- mozzarella
- fontina
- ham
- prosciutto
- soppressata
- Genoa salami
- sandwich pepperoni
- parmesan
- any other italian meats desired
- tomato
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- finely shredded parmesan
for the grinder salad:
- mayonnaise
- red wine vinegar
- garlic
- oregano
- red pepper flakes
- coarse ground black pepper
- iceberg lettuce
- red onion
- peperoncini
Preheat your oven to 400°
Cut the ciabatta loaf in half. I use 1/2 of loaf from this focaccia recipe.
Top each half with 4 slices of mozzarella and roughly 1/2 cup of grated fontina cheese or more if needed. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes or until melted and remove from the oven.
Meanwhile make the grinder salad! In a large mixing bowl, measure and add; 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 to 2 cloves grated garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper.
Whisk to combine.
So creamy!
To the dressing add 1/2 a large head of iceberg (has to be iceberg!) that has been sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices. Then add 1/3 cup (packed full) of thinly slice peperoncinis and 1/2 a medium red onion that’s been thinly sliced. I love using a handheld mandolin for the onion, it really gets them the perfect thickness.
Toss everything until combined!
Now finish building the sandwich. On the bottom half o the sandwich, top with 8 slices of ham and 8 slices prosciutto.
Then on the top half, layer 8 slices each Genoa salami, s0ppressata and sandwich pepperoni – and/or any other Italian meats you prefer.
Slip back into the oven to warm up the meats and get them toasty – about 4 to 6 minutes.
Next, top the bottom half with sliced tomato and season it with salt and black pepper.
Top with as much of the grinder salad as you wish. You can eat any leftovers by scooping it on to potato chips – SO GOOD.
Add 1/4 cup freshly and finely grated parmesan cheese over top of the salad…
… before adding the top half of the sandwich.
Cut into fourths and prepare yourself to fall in love, one deliciously messy bite at a time.
Enjoy! And if you give this Italian Grinder recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Italian Grinder
Ingredients
- 1/2 loaf focaccia
- 8 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup fontina cheese, freshly grated (or more if desired
- 8 slices deli ham
- 8 slices prosciutto
- 8 slices Genoa salami
- 8 slices soppressata
- 8 slices sandwich pepperoni
- 4 slices tomato
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly shredded or grated
FOR THE GRINDER SALAD:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 to 2 cloves garlic, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 pinches red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
- 1/2 large head iceberg, sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup sliced peperoncini, packed
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°.
- Slice the focaccia in half and top both halves (cut side) with mozzarella and fontina. Bake until melted - about 4 to 6 mintues.
- Meanwhile Make the grinder salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine mayo, vinegar, garlic, oregano, pepper and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine.
- Add in sliced lettuce, red onion and peperoncini and then toss well to coat.
- Once toasted, top the bottom half with ham and prosciutto. Then add salami, soppressata and sandwich pepperoni to the top half. Bake until toasted and the meat heated through - about 6 minutes.
- Add sliced tomato, salt and pepper to the bottom half. Top with desired amount of grinder salad and add grated parmesan cheese on top of the grinder salad.
- Replace the top halve, slice into fourths and enjoy!
- Any leftover grinder salad can be enjoyed with potato chips.
Notes
grinder salad was inspired by @joshcookswright
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
I was just looking for the recipe for a sandwich I saw on tictok. Then you mentioned Mancino’s and I’m from Lansing Michigan. Instantly hit home, thank you for the recipe and making me think of home ❤️
Best. Comment. Ever! Northern Oakland County here Enjoy!❤️
I went to school at Ferris, and loved and miss Mancino’s!!
What a wonderful recipe. Thank you for sharing.
This was amazing! I couldn’t find focaccia at the shops and wasn’t fussed to make it so I used a premade calzone but boy I can’t wait to make this again.
This was the best sandwich I have ever made!!
The grinder salad definitely makes it stand out!
I’ve even had people say it doesn’t take like any sandwich you can make at home.
I lived in Kalamazoo in the 90s and LOVED Mancino’s Italian grinder. I never had anything like it before and haven’t had anything like it since. Can’t wait to make this.