Bread
Jersey Mike's Inspired Original Italian Sub
A generous Italian roll layered with provolone and five cured meats, then dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion, red wine vinegar, oil, oregano, and salt.
Inspired by Jersey Mike's Subs
Prep
25 min
Cook
5 min
Serves
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Cooking Tools
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 14 ingredients
- • 4 sturdy 7-inch Italian sub rolls
- • 8 slices provolone cheese
- • 8 thin slices deli ham
- • 8 thin slices peppered ham
- • 8 thin slices capicola
- • 12 thin slices Genoa salami
- • 16 pepperoni slices
- • 2 cups finely shredded iceberg lettuce
- • 2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
- • 1/2 medium white onion, shaved thin
- • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- • 2 tablespoons olive oil
- • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 4 sturdy 7-inch Italian sub rollsMissing
- 8 slices provolone cheeseMissing
- 8 thin slices deli hamMissing
- 8 thin slices peppered hamMissing
- 8 thin slices capicolaMissing
- 12 thin slices Genoa salamiMissing
- 16 pepperoni slicesMissing
- 2 cups finely shredded iceberg lettuceMissing
- 2 medium tomatoes, thinly slicedMissing
- 1/2 medium white onion, shaved thinMissing
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegarMissing
- 2 tablespoons olive oilMissing
- 1 teaspoon dried oreganoMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher saltMissing
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Method
Recipe notes
Thin, loosely folded meats create a lighter bite than thick stacks. Cheese against the bottom bread and dressing over the lettuce protect the roll from moisture while preserving the tangy oil-and-vinegar finish.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate meats and cheese at 40 F or below and use by their package dates. Store cut vegetables and dressing separately; assembled dressed subs are best eaten immediately.
Make-ahead tips
Slice onion, shred lettuce, and mix dressing up to 1 day ahead. Layer meat and cheese in the rolls up to 4 hours ahead, but add vegetables and dressing only at serving time.
What to serve with it
- - Kettle-cooked potato chips
- - Dill pickle spears
- - Italian-style chopped salad
Equipment needed
- - Sharp serrated bread knife
- - Chef's knife or mandoline with hand guard
- - Small whisk and bowl
Difficulty explained
No cooking is required beyond an optional brief roll warm-up; careful thin slicing and orderly layering create the signature deli texture.
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Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
Whole-wheat sub rolls
Use sturdy whole-wheat sub rolls in the same quantity.
Low-moisture mozzarella
Use the same amount of thin-sliced low-moisture mozzarella when provolone is unavailable.
Turkey pepperoni
Use the same number of turkey pepperoni slices.
Type the ingredient you're missing — we'll find what you can use instead.
Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Pouring dressing directly onto the cut bread makes the roll soggy before the first bite.
- Thick piles of meat slide out and hide the contrast among the cured varieties.
- Deli meats and cheese are perishable; do not leave assembled sandwiches at room temperature longer than 2 hours.
Nutrition Context
- Cured meats and provolone provide substantial protein but also make sodium and saturated fat high.
- Using slightly less meat, extra lettuce and tomato, and a measured oil drizzle creates a lighter sandwich with the same dressed-sub profile.
FAQ
What is the classic dressed-sub finish?
The vegetables are topped with red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and salt, which seasons the lettuce without soaking the bottom bread.
What can replace peppered ham?
Use additional deli ham and add a little cracked black pepper; the flavor will be milder but the sandwich remains balanced.
Can I make the subs ahead?
Layer meat and cheese a few hours ahead, but add vegetables and dressing immediately before eating.
How do I keep the roll from getting soggy?
Place provolone against the bottom bread, dry the vegetables, and drizzle dressing over the lettuce rather than the roll.
Can I toast this sandwich?
You can warm the open meat-and-cheese roll briefly, but add the cold dressed vegetables afterward; the classic version is served cold.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Kettle-cooked potato chips; Dill pickle spears; Italian-style chopped salad. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.