Philadelphia Roast Pork Sandwiches
Our take on Philadelphia Roast Pork Sandwiches combines roasted pork with melty provolone cheese and broccoli rabe for a seriously satisfying bite. We sautéed the broccoli rabe with plenty of garlic and some crushed red pepper flakes, and finished it with fresh lemon juice. Its bitterness and brightness balances the fattiness of the pork, which is incredibly tender and buttery with a flavorful crust. Letting the pork sit at room temperature for an hour while the oven preheats helps ensure it cooks evenly. Roasting it initially at 450°F and then lowering the oven temperature crisps and renders the fat on top, and then slowly cooks the meat. The provolone brings sharpness and helps keep the bottom of the roll from getting too soggy, and the mayo — which has a punch of acidity from pickled pepperoncini and its brine — is the finishing touch.
Croque Madame
The French croque madame sandwich is a lesson in extravagance, made with white bread, butter, cheese, ham, Mornay sauce, and a fried egg. It's a luxurious, deeply comforting dish. If you like, turn it into a croque monsieur by simply skipping the fried egg. Serve the sandwiches with cornichons and a green salad tossed with a bright vinaigrette to compliment the richness of the sandwiches.
Dinkies Cheezesteak
This gloriously sloppy sub is the creation of Pinky Cole, founder of the popular Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan, and Derrick Hayes, Philly native and founder of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks. In Cole's Dinkies Cheezesteak, a plant-based version of Hayes' meat-packed hoagie, plant-based meat gets piled into toasted rolls with tender peppers, onions, and gooey pools of vegan cheese. Slutty Vegan's signature seasoning blend is available online, or substitute regular seasoned salt.
Crispy Fried Tofu Sandwich
Freezing and thawing extra-firm tofu and then wringing out its moisture makes the slabs more porous and receptive to the tangy pickle juice marinade in this craveworthy fried tofu sandwich. After a brief soak in pickle juice, the tofu is dredged in a spiced flour mixture, brushed with a hot sauce and mustard, and then dredged again and fried to yield the crispy, crunchy slabs for a satisfying vegetarian meal that gives fried fish sandwiches a run for their money.
Vada Pav (Potato Fritter Sandwich)
This sandwich is a vegetarian’s dream. It’s also a nice option for meat lovers looking for a sandwich stuffed with something just as enticing as a burger. Vada pav, one of Mumbai’s most popular street foods, is a potato fritter the size of a baseball stuffed into a flaky white bun, smeared with coconut and spicy green chile chutneys, and then squished until it’s small enough to fit into your mouth. They’re so much fun to eat and are one of my favorite chaat to have on sticky, hot Mumbai afternoons. I loved them when I was a kid because the size of the vada felt insurmountable until I finally sorted out a way to shove it into my mouth, which simply means I squeezed it down enough and opened my mouth wide enough to fit it all inside!
Crispy Short Rib Cemitas with Chipotle Sauce and Pickled Red Onion
After braising short ribs until they're supertender, Food & Wine's Justin Chapple throws them on a grill to get them a little charred and crisp. He piles the meat onto soft crusty rolls slathered with garlicky mayo and smoky chipotle sauce made from the deeply tasty braising liquid.Slideshow: Short Rib Ideas
