A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub, hoagie, grinder, po’boy, or hero, is a type of sandwich made with a long roll or bun split lengthwise and filled with meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments. The original submarine sandwich is believed to have originated in several different Italian American communities in the Northeastern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Origins of the Submarine Sandwich
While the exact origins are debated, most food historians agree that the submarine sandwich likely originated in Italian American immigrant communities in the Northeastern United States in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Some of the possible birthplaces of the sub include:
- New London, Connecticut – One story credits submarine sandwich inventor John DePastina with selling them at his shop in 1925.
- New York, New York – Several early 20th century Italian delis and grocery stores in Little Italy and other immigrant neighborhoods claim to have invented the sub.
- Portland, Maine – Giovanni Amato claims to have sold the first submarine sandwich at his food cart in the early 1900s.
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Several sources trace the Philly cheesesteak sandwich back to the early 1900s when Italian immigrants would order tripe sandwiches.
While we may never know the exact origin, what is clear is that Italian American communities played a key role in developing and popularizing this iconic sandwich.
Common Ingredients
While variations abound, a submarine sandwich typically contains the following ingredients:
Bread
The original submarine sandwiches were made with Italian bread or rolls. Today, most sub shops use long sandwich rolls or buns specifically made for subs. The bread is typically between 6-12 inches long and split lengthwise to be filled with ingredients. Common bread types include:
- Italian Bread
- French Bread
- Hoagie Rolls
- Sub Rolls
Meats
Popular meats used in subs include:
- Ham
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Turkey
- Roast Beef
- Tuna
- Meatballs
- Capicola
- Pastrami
Cheese
Typical cheese choices are:
- Provolone
- Swiss
- American
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan
Vegetables
Popular vegetable toppings include:
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Pickles
- Banana Peppers
- Jalapeños
- Olives
Condiments
Condiments help add moisture and flavor to submarine sandwiches. Common condiments are:
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Oil and Vinegar
- Salt and Pepper
- Oregano
- Hot Sauce
Popular Types of Submarine Sandwiches
While creativity is welcome, there are some standard submarine sandwiches that are popular in delis and sandwich shops:
Italian Sub
An Italian sub features meats like salami, ham, capicola, and provolone cheese along with shredded lettuce, onions, tomatoes, oil and vinegar. It may include oregano, hot peppers, or Italian dressing.
Meatball Sub
A meatball sub is filled with Italian meatballs smothered in tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Tuna Sub
A tuna sub is made with tuna salad featuring tuna mixed with mayonnaise and celery along with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Turkey Sub
Sliced turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion with mayo and mustard make a tasty turkey submarine.
Ham and Cheese
Slices of ham and provolone cheese along with crisp vegetables make a delicious hot or cold sub sandwich.
Roast Beef Sub
Roast beef, provolone, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo and Italian dressing is a combination featured on many roast beef submarine sandwiches.
Club Sub
A club sub is made with sliced turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.
Steak and Cheese Sub
Thinly sliced steak and melted cheese like provolone or cheddar makes a hearty sandwich known as a steak and cheese sub.
Sausage and Peppers Sub
Italian sausage and sautéed bell peppers is a favorite filling for hot subs.
Chicken Parmesan Sub
Breaded chicken cutlets, tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan make a crispy, saucy chicken parm sub.
Veggie Sub
For a meatless option, veggies subs are filled with cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers and condiments.
Supreme Sub
A supreme sub includes any combination of three or more meats like salami, turkey, roast beef along with cheese and veggie toppings.
Regional Submarine Sandwich Variations
While the classic Italian submarine sandwich has many standard ingredients, regional variations have also emerged with their own twists on the classic sub.
| Region | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Philly Cheesesteak | Thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, onions and peppers on a long roll. |
| New Orleans | Po’ Boy | Meat or seafood sub served on New Orleans French bread. |
| New England | Grinder | Assorted meats and cheese served on a baked roll. |
| New York City | Hero | 6-12 inch sandwich made with meats and cheeses. |
| Maine | Italian | Salami, ham, cheese, onions, peppers and oil. |
Even with these regional differences, the basic components of meats, cheese, fresh vegetables, and condiments served on a long split roll remain consistent in submarine sandwiches across the country.
Customizing Your Sub
One of the best parts of ordering a sub is getting to customize it exactly how you like it. Here are some tips for ordering your perfect submarine sandwich.
Pick Your Bread
Select your ideal bread type whether it’s chewy Italian, crispy French, or soft sub rolls. Choose the right size based on your appetite, with 6, 8, 10 or 12-inch options.
Load Up the Meats
Feel free to pick one meat like roast beef or go for the gusto with a combo of salami, turkey, and ham. Get extra meat or a smaller portion.
Cheese It Up
Cheese choices are abundant – provolone, Swiss, cheddar, American, mozzarella and more. Opt for just one variety or a cheese blend.
Veggie Options
Select crisp veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers and pickles. Some also offer olives, banana peppers or jalapeños to spice it up.
Condiment Choices
Spread on mayo, mustard, oil and vinegar or special sauce. Add salt, pepper, oregano or hot sauce.
Toasted or Not
Choose to have your sub toasted for a hot and melty sandwich or go cold with fresh ingredients.
How to Make Submarine Sandwiches at Home
Want to enjoy delicious sub sandwiches from the comfort of home? Here is a simple step-by-step guide to making sub sandwiches:
- Select your bread. Sub rolls, hoagie rolls and baguettes work well. Cut the bread lengthwise without cutting all the way through.
- Layer meats like deli ham, salami, turkey and roast beef. Add cheese slices.
- Top with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and other desired veggies.
- Drizzle with oil and vinegar or spread condiments like mayonnaise or mustard.
- Season with black pepper, oregano, salt and other spices.
- Close the bread and slice the sub sandwich to serve.
For a fun twist, toast the sandwich in the oven or a panini press before serving for warm melted subs made at home.
Sandwich Shops to Find Subs
While it’s easy to make great subs at home, there are also plenty of excellent sandwich shops and chains that serve up hearty submarine sandwiches across the country, such as:
- Subway
- Jersey Mike’s
- Jimmy John’s
- Firehouse Subs
- Penn Station
- Potbelly
- Quiznos
- Capriotti’s
Check your local deli, grocery store, pizzeria or food trucks as well for fresh submarine sandwiches.
Nutrition Facts
The nutrition of a submarine sandwich can vary significantly based on the ingredients. In general, an average 6-inch sub may contain:
- Calories: 300-500
- Total Fat: 10-25g
- Carbohydrates: 30-60g
- Protein: 15-30g
- Sodium: 500-1000mg
Going easy on high-fat meats and cheeses and loading up on vegetable toppings can help make a healthier submarine sandwich. Using whole grain bread, mustard instead of mayo, and skipping the oil can also cut calories and fat. Overall though, subs should be enjoyed as an occasional treat in moderation.
Submarine Sandwich Fun Facts
- The average American eats 3 submarine sandwiches per year.
- Italian immigrants in New York are credited with first calling it a “submarine sandwich” because it resembled the shape of submarines used in World War I.
- National Submarine Day is celebrated on August 3rd in the United States.
- Subway, founded in 1965, is the world’s largest submarine sandwich franchise with over 40,000 locations.
- The longest sub in the world was made in 2003 by a group of sandwich artists. It was 423 feet long.
- Submarine sandwiches can also be called hoagies, heros, grinders, zeps, rockets, spukies, wedges and torpedoes based on regional slang terms.
Conclusion
With its delicious combination of meats, cheese, crisp vegetables and condiments piled high on a toasted roll, it’s no wonder the submarine sandwich has become an American classic. While inventing the sub’s exact origins may remain a mystery, we can all agree this hearty, customizable sandwich makes for an inspired and mouthwatering meal any day of the week. So next time you are craving an overstuffed sub, look no further than your neighborhood deli, sandwich shop or your own kitchen counter to build the perfect submarine sandwich creation.