Summer Fresh Recipe Series: Italian Layered Picnic Sandwich

This BIG sandwich is layered with all sorts of flavor bursting ingredients making for one heck of a meal!

Here's something light and easy that requires no cooking for my 19th installment of my Summer Fresh Recipe Series.  We're making sandwiches!

Inspired by a sandwich we had down in Santa Monica at the famous "Bay Cities Italian Deli" this huge sandwich is layered to the brim with all kinds of goodies.  You can't beat a good sandwich for a light supper, lunchtime, picnic, or as a potluck item.  This sandwich is my variation of an Italian layered submarine sandwich and it is packed with flavor!

Using an uncut loaf of French bread as the starting point, you can make this sandwich ahead and take it along with you, then cut it as you serve.  Perfect for a block party or a small family reunion.  We made this one hot summer evening when it was even too hot to grill outside.  I served this with a wonderful Tangerine Salad (recipe coming) and it made a wonderful dinner.

The layers include salami, mortadella, turkey, and even chicken deli meats.  The addition of fresh basil, marinated artichokes, spinach, fresh mozzarella, and onion all add tremendous flavor and take this sandwich to new heights!  

Kids as well as adults will all love this sandwich, and the best part is there is NO COOKING involved! Gotta love that when it's even too hot to grill. So go pick up a fresh loaf of french bread, some deli items and sit back and relax with a big filing slice of heaven.

Enjoy!

Summer Fresh Recipe Series

• Spicy Grilled Eggplant
• Carrot and Almond Bulgur Salad
• Tomato Avocado & Grilled Corn Salad
• Spinach Orzo Salad with Chickpeas 
• Cherry Almond Muffins
• Watermelon Salad Mediterranean Style
• Chicken Fajita Kabobs
• Refreshing Melon Salad
• Peach Blueberry & Ginger Crisp
• Grilled Sirloin Steak with Garlic Herb Vinaigrette
• Grilled Vegetable Platter
• Sirloin Steak topped with Herb Salsa with Roasted Potatoes & Carrots
• Lemon Blueberry Scones
• Grilled Honey Ginger Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Apricots & Brocollini
• Lemon Raspberry Dutch Baby
• Simple Mediterranean Salad
• Grilled Chicken Kofta
• Greek Cobb Salad

Italian Layered Picnic Sandwich

serves: 8-10 depending on the size of the loaf

1 un-sliced loaf of French Bread
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 lb cotto or hard salami, thinly sliced

6 slices fresh mozzarella

8-10 fresh basil leaves

1 1/2 roma tomatoes, thinly sliced

1/4 lb mortadella

1 6 1/2 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and quartered if whole

spinach greens

1/4 lb turkey slices

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 lb chicken slices

kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper

Cut loaf in half horizontally.  Pull out some of the bread filling from the tops and bottoms.  Combine the olive oil and the garlic in a small bowl.  Brush tops and bottoms with oil mixture.  Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.  

Layer bottom loaf with 1/2 of each:  salami, mozarella, basil, tomatoes, mortadella, artichokes, spinach, turkey onion and chicken.  Repeat layers.  Season with salt & pepper.  Place bread tops on top.  Slice into good sized wedges.  Serve.