Tuesday, July 15, 2025
63.0°F

Give Dad what he really wants - a seriously robust sandwich

ALISON LADMAN/Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 1 month AGO
by ALISON LADMAN/Associated Press
| June 10, 2015 9:00 PM

You know what Dad really wants for Father's Day this year? A sandwich.

No, seriously. Guys generally are not complex creatures. And they don't tend to ask for much. The occasional electronic gizmo (which they'd rather pick out for themselves anyway, thank you very much). Maybe tickets to a sports game. Perhaps somebody else to mow the lawn for once. Heck, even just a night off to play poker with his buddies.

See what I mean? Guys are easy. Which is why no matter what sort of dad you have, chances are very good that he would love somebody to make him a killer sandwich.

Which is to say, you can't just make him a ham and cheese on white bread. Even basic guys like a great sandwich, emphasis on the great. So we created a sandwich inspired by one of the most famous sandwich-loving dads: Dagwood Bumstead. His version was more difficult to eat - and often twice the size of his head - but we tamed it only slightly. Serve with a pickle spear and a pile of crisp potato chips or french fries.

Father's Day dagwood sandwich

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Servings: 1

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

Hefty pinch kosher salt

1/4-inch thick slice red onion, separated into rings

2 slices soft deli-style rye bread

1 slice soft dark pumpernickel bread

Light mayonnaise

Deli mustard

Thousand Island or Russian dressing

2 slices deli-sliced turkey

2 slices deli-sliced ham

2 slices provolone cheese

2 tablespoons sliced roasted red pepper, patted dry

2 large leaves romaine lettuce

2 slices pastrami

2 slices Swiss cheese

3 slices crisp-cooked bacon

2 slices tomato

2 tablespoons sliced banana peppers

2 large green olives

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the vinegar, sugar and salt. Microwave on high until simmering, 30 to 45 seconds, then stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the onion rings, stir, cover and set aside for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, arrange the 2 slices of rye and 1 slice of pumpernickel on the counter. Spread 1 slice rye with light mayonnaise, spread the second slice of rye with deli mustard, then spread the slice of pumpernickel with Thousand Island or Russian dressing.

Start assembling the sandwich with a slice of rye on the bottom. Top with the turkey, ham, provolone and roasted red peppers, in that order. Top with 1 of the leaves of romaine, folding it as needed to fit the sandwich. Add the slice of pumpernickel bread, then top that with the pastrami, Swiss cheese and bacon. Top the bacon with the second leaf of romaine, again folding to fit. Top with the tomato slices and banana peppers.

Drain the onions and pat dry with paper towels. Layer the onions over the sandwich and top with the second slice of rye. Cut the whole sandwich in half, placing a large toothpick topped with an olive into each side to hold it together.

Nutrition information per serving: 980 calories; 470 calories from fat (48 percent of total calories); 52 g fat (25 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 185 mg cholesterol; 3,500 mg sodium; 57 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 11 g sugar; 69 g protein.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Satisfy dad's sloppy side this Father's Day
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 14 years ago
Cheesesteak that's delicious even minus the steak
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 11 years, 1 month ago
Lunch served with a side of the unexpected
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 13 years, 11 months ago

ARTICLES BY ALISON LADMAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Give Dad what he really wants - a seriously robust sandwich
June 10, 2015 9 p.m.

Give Dad what he really wants - a seriously robust sandwich

You know what Dad really wants for Father's Day this year? A sandwich.

Ditch the dogs, take your Fourth of July links to a new level
July 1, 2015 9 p.m.

Ditch the dogs, take your Fourth of July links to a new level

Anybody can grill a hot dog, slap it on a bun and dump on the usual ketchup and mustard. So how about going a bit beyond the ordinary this July Fourth?

Time to enjoy the classic fried fish sandwich of summer
June 24, 2015 9 p.m.

Time to enjoy the classic fried fish sandwich of summer

Need a break from the grill? Probably not, but it's still good to remember that there are classic summer foods that don't need an open flame to be delicious.