There's nothing quite like a good hoagie sandwich...or rather, a sub, submarine sandwich, torpedo, hero, grinder, or spuckie, depending on what you call it. The Italian sandwich recipe is known by many names, but it all generally amounts to the same thing: some sort of sandwich on some sort of bread with veggies, meat, and/or cheese toppings. What do you call it, and why?
What is a Hoagie?
A hoagie is another name for a cold submarine sandwich made with all sorts of different toppings.
Specifically, a hoagie sandwich is one filled with Italian meats, cheeses, and other toppings, and Encyclopedia Britannica reports that it likely originated in the Philadelphia area where Italian immigrants who worked at the Hog Island shipyard during World War I made sandwiches that were originally called "hoggies" before they became the hoagie many know and love today.
However, Portland, Maine, says it is the birthplace of the Italian sandwich, according to Wikipedia. The term "hero" seems to come from the New York City area, and grinder is common in New England. Spuckie seems to be short for spucadella, which is the name of an Italian roll.
What's on a Hoagie Sandwich?
What isn't on a hoagie? Or rather, is there anything you can't put on it? Hoagies can include ingredients like American cheese, swiss, mozzarella, or provolone cheese, and deli meats like genoa salami, roast beef, capicola, pastrami, or other cold cuts.
These Italian sub sandwiches can also include pepperoncini, red peppers, banana peppers, shredded lettuce, pesto, olive oil, Italian dressing, and spices like oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
It basically comes down to your own preferences; do you want a simple cheese sandwich or a complicated concoction on a crusty hoagie bun?
Whether you call it an Italian hoagie, a sub, a po'boy, or any number of other names, sometimes these simple sandwich meals really just hit the spot.
