Friday, September 28, 2018

GARLIC BUTTER ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICHES

Now THESE sandwiches are a serious football game dinner! These garlicky, cheesy, Italian sausage sandwiches will easily win over the pickiest of eaters.  These are loaded with hot Italian sausage, spicy tomato sauce, tons of cheese and garlic butter in a toasted bun to make the ultimate game day food! 

I’ve been drowning my sorrows in these sandwiches all week.  Realizing that your 40 hour work week is gone for good and replaced by a 60 hour week definitely deserves a couple indulgent, cheesy, spicy sandwiches to fill my stomach and numb my feelings.   I love my work though, so don’t feel bad for me! But I find myself daydreaming of these sandwiches while a patient scolds me or as my stomach grumbles at 3pm, reminding me that I forgot to eat lunch.

Spicy tomato and sausage filling in a toasted garlic buttered bun and loaded with mozzarella and provolone cheese.

INGREDIENTS

Garlic butter:
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¼ cup finely chopped basil
  • ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp garlic paste (or 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely)

Italian Sausage Mixture:
  • 1 lb ground italian sausage
  • 1 14 oz can of tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup red wine
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp chopped basil


Sandwiches:
  • 4 sandwich or hot dog buns
  • 4 slices of mozzarella cheese
  • 8 slices of provolone cheese
  • chopped red onion and basil for garnish


METHOD
  1. For the butter, combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix until fully incorporated. Set aside until ready to use
  2. For the sausage mixture: brown the sausage in a large pan then add the tomato sauce and red wine. Let it simmer for 15 mins over medium low heat. Remove from heat and stir in chopped basil and salt to taste.
  3. When ready to serve, slather the butter over the inside and tops of buns. Toast in the oven until slightly browned and butter has melted. Remove from the oven and place 1 slice of mozzarella cheese into each bun followed by the italian sausage mixture. Then top each sandwich with 2 slices of provolone cheese and place under the broiler under cheese starts to bubble. Remove from oven.
  4. Top with chopped onions and basil and serve!