A Guide to Pairing Italian Sandwiches & Sides | Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop (2024)

FAQs

What sides go with Italian sandwiches? ›

Panini is an Italian word, the plural form of panino, and are Italian sandwiches. Panini are usually prepared on a bread roll or rustic bread.

Once all of the elements are stacked up (in order: meat, cheese, lettuce, onion), douse it with olive oil and red wine vinegar and then, the key move, a few pinches of dried oregano. And there you go. You've just built yourself an authentic Italian hero.

Aside from starters and then pasta and rice which constitute the “primo” first course, people who have chosen to not eat meat, poultry or fish can easily swap in one, or more, of the many side dishes always present at mealtime in Italy.

Similar to focaccia, schiacciata is a Tuscan bread that's large and thin, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and absolutely perfect for making Italian sandwiches.

It's all about the ingredients: crispy, seedy Italian bread, layers upon layers of paper-thin capicola, salami, pepperoni and ham, vinegar-drenched shredded lettuce, fresh tomatoes, sliced onions, and cherry peppers. Plus some [not so] top-secret deli hacks to tie it all together.

Wet: This is the slightly soaked option, with just enough liquid to soak the bread, but not to the saturation point. Some places, like Portillo's, ladle on some of the jus to get the desired effect. A few places politely dip the cut side or one end of the bread into the jus before adding the meat.

Use the cured meats that you enjoy. Typically, meats like capicola (a spicy, Italian ham), mortadella (a bologna-like cured meat that is studded with pistachios), salami, pepperoni, and even prosciutto are used. The way they are sliced can make a huge difference! Cured meats can be chewy, if sliced too thick.

For cheeses, provolone is standard and what I like best, but Swiss is nice too! Besides loads of meats and cheese on an Italian sandwich, it usually has a chopped mix of pickled and crunchy vegetables to round out the sandwich.

What condiments go on an Italian sub? ›

Go ahead and add your onions, pickles, banana peppers, and roasted red peppers on top of everything. Don't be afraid to pile them on high. We're over making boring sandwiches. Season everything once more with salt, pepper, and oregano, and top it with a drizzle of olive oil and red wine vinaigrette.

The best side dishes to serve with Italian beef sandwiches are French fries, coleslaw, grilled vegetables, Caprese salad, blooming onion, stuffed mushrooms, cheeseburger macaroni, Tabasco, tomato bruschetta, honey glazed carrots, crispy green beans, wedge salad, zucchini fritters, cauliflower pizza bowl, and potato ...

Sandwiches are often served with accompaniments. These vary from additional condiments such as ketchup, mustard, or horseradish sauce, to fresh and pickled vegetables such as lettuce, onion, tomato, and sweet or dill pickles. French fries or chips ore also a popular accompaniment, as are potato salads and slaws.

The best side dishes to serve with Italian Sausage are blooming onion, polenta, sweet potato fries, garlic bread, Caprese salad, cheese dip, sautéed mushrooms, roasted potatoes, mushroom risotto, sautéed spinach, stuffed mushrooms, garden salad, butternut squash, zucchini fritters, Korean corn dogs, green beans, ...

Caprese Sandwich Serving Suggestions

This Caprese sandwich is a satisfying meal on its own, but it goes well with all sorts of sides, too. Keep things simple, and serve it with your favorite chips and fresh fruit, or pair it with chopped fresh veggies and a flavorful dip like hummus, baba ganoush, or white bean dip.

Bread is a good complement to soup or antipasto, and main courses (meat) or vegetable side dishes. Although it may seem odd, it's actually expected to use bits of bread to help other non-pasta food up onto your fork.