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Sausage and Peppers Hero on a checkered napkin.

Sausage and Peppers Hero

Course: lunch, Sandwich
Cuisine: Italian, Italian / American
Keyword: Italian Sausage and Onions Sandwich, Italian Sausage Sandwich, Sausage hero NYC
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Marina Preparation: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 433kcal
This Sausage and Peppers Hero is really one to write home about. Be sure to make the homemade marinara, if you can, you won't regret it. Simply amazing! Great with our without melted mozzarella...we, naturally, love it with the gooey melted cheese! So good!
Print Recipe

Ingredients

FOR THE SAUSAGES

  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 12 3 oz hot Italian sausages
  • 1 ½ tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1 ½ tsp flat-leaf parsley chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 medium yellow onions peeled and thinly sliced
  • 8 cups fresh marinara sauce click for recipe
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

FOR THE PEPPERS AND ONIONS

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 large yellow onions peeled, and cut into about 6 or 7 wedges, each.
  • 2 red bell peppers seeded, cored, and cut into 6 lengthwise pieces
  • 2 green bell peppers seeded, cored, and cut into 6 lengthwise pieces
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

FOR THE SANDWICH

  • 2 to 3 cups fresh marinara sauce click for recipe
  • 12 to 14 thin slices of fresh mozzarella
  • 4 crispy Italian hero rolls 6 to 8 inches long (cut the ends off, if you prefer)

Instructions

MAKE AHEAD OF TIME

  • Make the marinara sauce and then re-heat in a large pot, preferably a Dutch oven.

MAKE THE SAUSAGES

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
  • When the oil is hot, add the sausages and cook for about 4 minutes, turning occasionally to brown on all sides.
  • Using tongs, remove the sausages from the pan and set them aside on a platter.
  • Add the onions and reduce heat to medium, cooking the mixture, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, or until the onions have softened.
  • Add the basil, parsley and garlic to the pan and saute for about 2 minuteS.
  • Transfer the onion mixture the prepared marinara sauce.
  • Place the sausages and any accumulated juices in the pot and mix it well.
  • Simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Season the sauce with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper and then set aside. 

MAKE THE PEPPERS AND ONIONS

  • In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
  • When the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook it for 1 to 2 minutes, or until starting to brown.
  • Add the onions and peppers and season with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Saute them, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until they soften and start to brown.
  • Add garlic, basil and parsley and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, until the peppers and onions have softened and starting to caramelize. Set aside.

PREPARE THE SANDWICH

  • Turn your broiler onto high.
  • Open the rolls and place on a baking sheet and add a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom half of each roll. Then place a cooked sausage on the layer of marinara, and then a layer of peppers and onions, and then cover with sliced mozzarella.
  • Place under the broiler and cook until the cheese has started to melt and the bread is begining to get toasty on the edges. Remove and serve at once with more marina sauce on the side.

Video

Notes

Homemade fresh marina is always best, but quality store-bought will work, too.
The marinara, sausages and onions can all be prepared a day in advance.  Simply re-heat all component before assembling and toasting the sandwich.
If you can't find Italian rolls, then go with a hoagie or submarine roll.  They are softer and not authentic for an Italian hero, but will still be delicious. 
Watch closely once the hero's are under the broiler.  Don't let them burn!

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2268IU | Vitamin C: 133mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg