When grilled cheese and PB&J just won’t do, try this flavorful sandwich with tasty, tart apples, pungent onions and a sweet fig spread.
Ingredients
Figgy-Piggy Sammy Sandwich
1 fresh olive ciabatta roll
1/8 lb gorgonzola dolce, room temp.
1/4 lb (approx. 15 thin slices) Genoa or dry Italian salami
1/3 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced thin in rings 1/8” thick
3 slices grilled tomato (or roasted red pepper)
2 oz fennel bulb, sliced thin and sautéed
1 red onion, halved and sliced thinly (julienned)
1 t olive oil
pinch ea salt and pepper
1/4 c ea balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar and sugar
1 oz fig spread (Dalmatia)
Warm Russian Potato Salad
2 1/2 lb red potatoes, boiled, cooled and cubed
1 1/2 c heavy cream
1 c sour cream
1 T Hungarian Paprika
1/2 T mild chili powder
1/2 T fresh tarragon, chopped
1/2 c celery, chopped
1/2 c sauerkraut, drained
1/2 c bacon, cooked and chopped
1/2 green apple, diced
salt and pepper to taste
Steps
Figgy-Piggy Sammy Sandwich
Grill apple slices quickly about 1 min per side until softened (or sauté in a hot pan with a little butter). Sauté fennel over med heat with olive oil and salt and pepper until caramelized, about 8-10 min. Set aside and keep warm.
For balsamic onions, heat vinegars and sugar to a simmer. Add onions and remove from heat. Let rest until cool enough to handle, approx. 15-20 min. Store in airtight container.
Assembly
Preheat oven to 400°. Spread fig jam across the bottom half of split and lightly grilled ciabatta. Spread softened gorgonzola across the top. Layer salami on bottom, adding warm grilled apple slices, grilled tomatoes, fennel and onions. Bake 5-7 min until warmed through.
Warm Russian Potato Salad
Boil potatoes, cool to handle and dice. Bring cream to a simmer; add sour cream, spices and tarragon and bring back to a simmer. Remove from heat immediately and add to warm potatoes in large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and serve warm.
*To keep the roll from hardening and the salami from drying out, it’s important to follow the recommended temperatures for ingredients.
