Grilled Italian Sandwiches
Made some good grilled food tonight. Here’s the recipe in case you want to try it:
Grilled Italian Sandwiches:
- 1 red pepper
- 1 spanish or white onion
- 1 small eggplant
- 1 loaf Italian or French bread
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 TBS hot sauce (I used Louisiana brand sauce)
- 3 drops liquid hickory smoke
- 2 TBS tomato paste
- 4 or more slices of provolone cheese
- Cut the red pepper into quarters then half each quarter, discarding seeds and stem. Cut the onion into 1/2 inch slices, and the eggplant into 3/4 inch slices.
- Mix the olive oil and spices together, adding the hot sauce and liquid smoke.
- Brush the vegetables with the oil mix and cook for 15-20 min. on a med-hot grill, brushing with oil until most of the mix is used up.
- If you can’t get a small eggplant, or it’s a little old, brush it with extra oil.
- Slice the bread lengthwise, and remove some of the bread from the top and bottom halves, making a hollow for the vegetables.
- Brush the inside of the loaf with the remainder of the oil mix, and the tomato paste.
- Line the top and bottom halves with the provolone cheese, and assemble the sandwich, using a layer of each vegetable. Separate the onion into rings and evenly distribute it.
- Put the top and bottom halves together, compressing the loaf until it’s easy to manage, then wrap tightly with aluminum foil.
- Place on a cooling barbecue grill, away from direct heat (best to do this when the BBQ is just turned off), and let sit until the cheese is melted — anywhere from 5-10 min. Turn it occasionally, and be sure the bread doesn’t burn or scorch.
- Remove from heat, unwrap, slice into quarters, and enjoy. Serves 4 people or 2 really hungry ones.