The best salami sandwich includes the most unlikely ingredient: olive oil steamed green bell peppers! That’s right: a soft bun, olive oil steamed peppers, hard salami and cheddar cheese. It’s a work of art that’s lived in my family for generations. Serve with homemade dill pickles!
Salami, cheese, peppers and a bun. You can’t get more simple or more delicious! My great grandmother, Bertha, past this recipe to my grandmother, Stella, and then my dad and me. There’s a reason why this sandwich has come this far!
Ingredients
- Soft white or wheat hamburger buns – you can use “fancier” buns but the traditional way is my favorite!
- Green bell peppers – not red, not yellow, not orange…green bell peppers!
- Hard salami – pick your hard salami of choice. I like the classic Genoa, Soppressata, or Calabrese (spicy) salami for this recipe.
- Sharp cheddar cheese – the sharper the cheddar, the better.
- Extra virgin olive oil – you’ll need good olive oil to steam your peppers.
What to Put on a Salami Sandwich (Variations)
- The classic – salami, steamed peppers, sharp cheddar
- Other cheeses – provolone, swiss, Monterey jack, smoked gouda, fresh mozzarella
- Other breads – tortilla, pita, hard roll, ciabatta, bagel
- More meat – sausage, pepperoni, mortadella, grilled chicken
How to Make a Salami Sandwich
Full details in recipe card!
- Steam peppers.
Steam peppers in a ¼ inch of olive oil in the bottom of a large pot for 75-90 minutes, re-arranging halfway through.
- Assemble sandwiches.
Add a slice of cheddar to each bottom bun. Lay pepper half on top of cheese. Add salami slices to each sandwich. Sprinkle generously with salt & pepper. Enjoy right away while the peppers are warm!
How Long to Steam Green Peppers
Bell peppers take 75-90 minutes to steam in ¼ inch of olive oil, re-arranging halfway through for even steaming.
Tips & Tricks
- Rearrange your peppers halfway through cooking, for even steaming.
- I do not toast my bun because I like the softness of the sandwich and how the olive oil soaks into the bun a bit. It’s the way I grew up making it! You can toast your buns if desired!
- I also do not melt the cheese. I like the “rawness” of the cheese that just softens from the warmth of the peppers. It’s the way my great grandmother made it!
What to Serve With Salami Sandwiches
Serve your salami sandwich with chips, homemade dill pickles, a simple tomato-cucumber salad, mayo-less potato salad, or Dijon cider coleslaw.
More Sandwich Recipes on Tastefully Grace!
- Turkey Club Sandwich With Black Pepper Parmesan Mayo
- Pesto Chicken Cutlet Subs
- Tomato Sandwiches
- Portobello & Swiss Chard Paninis
- Apple, Shallot & Prosciutto Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 soft white or wheat hamburger buns
- 3 green bell peppers seeded, cored & sliced in half
- 12 large slices hard salami Genoa, Calabrese or Soppressata
- 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Steam Peppers
- Place pepper halves in a large pot that has about a ¼ inch of olive oil in the bottom of it. Cover, and turn heat to medium-low. Let peppers steam for 75-90 minutes, re-arranging halfway through for even steaming. Check peppers periodically. If the skins are browing quickly, turn heat lower.
- Peppers are done when soft they’re soft and army green.
Assemble Sandwiches
- Add a slice of cheddar to each bottom bun. Lay 1 pepper half on top of cheese, shaking off excess oil to prevent the bun from getting soggy. Add 2 salami slices to each sandwich. Sprinkle generously with salt & pepper.
- Enjoy right away while the peppers are warm!
Video
Notes
- I do not toast my bun because I like the softness of the sandwich and how the olive oil soaks into the bun a bit. It’s the way I grew up making it! You can toast your buns if desired!
- I also do not melt the cheese. I like the “rawness” of the cheese that just softens from the warmth of the peppers. It’s the way my great grandmother made it!
