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Dining between two slices of bread

Recipes to create an Italian brick sandwich

MSNBC
updated 11:45 p.m. ET Oct. 2, 2005

July 19 - What’s an Italian brick sandwich? Well, it’s a method of making sandwiches that involves bread, filling and yes, a brick. Michael White, executive chef at New York City’s Fiamma restaurant, says a brick sandwich is like fine dining between two slices of bread. Check out his recipes for sandwiches, and a lot more, below.

PEACH ICED TEA (TE ALLA PESCA)
Michael White

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

7 tea bags (your choice of tea type however peach herbal tea is great!)
8 cups of water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 of a lemon — juiced
2 large peaches — diced

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Add four cups of water to a pot and bring to a boil. Add tea bags and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add sugar and lemon juice, stir. Add 4 cups of remaining room temperature water. Add diced peaches. Serve over ice.

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RICE SALAD (INSALATA DI RISOTTO)
Michael White

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Rice Salad

1 pound Arborio rice (risotto)
1/2 pint grape tomatoes — halved
1 cup marinated artichokes from a jar — strained
1/2 cup diced salami
1/2 cup diced provolone
1/2 cup sliced green cernigola olives
8 ounce container of gardinera (spicy vegetables in oil)
1 table spoon of each the following fresh herbs — mint, chives, basil, and tarragon
Sea salt and fresh pepper — to taste

Ingredients for Vinaigrette

3 table spoons red wine vinegar
2 table spoons lemon juice
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped herbs
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

In a pot of boiling salted water, add the rice, stir and bring back to a boil — uncovered — stirring occasionally for 10-13 minutes or until tender. Strain the rice and rinse under cold water. In another bowl whisk vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, fresh herbs, salt and pepper — add rice ,vegetables, salami and cheese to large mixing bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over the rice and vegetables, toss and season with salt and pepper to taste.

TIPS

Note: This salad should be made the night before, stored in a bowl or plastic container and chilled in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap.

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TOMATO SALAD (INSALATA DI POMODORINI)
Michael White

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 pints grape tomatoes — halved
1/4 cup julienne basil
1 clove of garlic — crushed
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let marinate overnight.

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STRAWBERRIES WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR (FRAGILE AL BALSAMICO)
Michael White

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 pints strawberries, washed, cleaned of their top and thinly sliced
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Toss strawberries, vinegar, sugar and lemon in a glass or plastic bowl — let stand overnight in the refrigerator covered — stir before serving.

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PRESSED ITALIAN BRICK SANDWICHES (SCHIACCIATA AL MATTONE) Sandwich #1 Meat — Carne
Michael White

Serves 4 (sandwich gets cut into four quarters)

INGREDIENTS

SANDWICH

1 loaf of ciabbata bread (or crusty Italian bread)
1/2 pound mortadella
1/2 pound prosciutto
2 large sliced beefsteak tomatoes
1 seedless cucumber — sliced
2 roasted red peppers or 1 can of roasted red peppers, strained of their juices
1/2 cup basil leaves
1/2 pound sliced pecorino cheese
1/4 pound arugula

VINAIGRETTE

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

VINAIGRETTE

Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl, set aside in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap.

SANDWICH

To begin — wrap a brick in tin foil. Slice ciabbatta loaf in half across middle. Squirt with vinaigrette on both sides (if you do not have a squirt bottle, you can spoon or brush the vinaigrette on the bread) — layer one side of the bread with meats and cheese then roasted red peppers, basil leaves, cucumber, tomato and arugula — place top of bread to form sandwich. Wrap the entire sandwich in wax paper. Place on a cutting board (or firm surface) put the tin foil wrapped brick on top of the sandwich to flatten. Put in the refrigerator with the brick on it for a minimum of 3 hours. For best results let the sandwich squish overnight.

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PRESSED ITALIAN BRICK SANDWICHES (SCHIACCIATA AL MATTONE) Sandwich # 2 Vegetable - Verdure
Michael White

Serves 4 (sandwich gets cut into four quarters)

INGREDIENTS

Sandwich

1 loaf of Ciabatta bread (or crusty Italian bread)
8 1/2 inch thick unpeeled eggplant slices
8 1/4 inch thick unpeeled zucchini slices

Vinaigrette

1 clove minced garlic
1 sprig mint — chopped
1 sprig sage — chopped
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 table spoons red wine vinegar
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

VINAIGRETTE

In a bowl, whisk vinaigrette until emulsified — cover and refrigerate — this vinaigrette can be made one day ahead.

Grill seasoned (with salt & pepper) eggplant and zucchini over medium heat in a grill pan (or George Forman grill) until tender — about 10 minutes. When they are finished — layer the eggplant and zucchini in a Pyrex clear baking dish and drizzle with 1/2 of the vinaigrette, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours to marinate.

Meanwhile, roast 2 red peppers — skins removed and sliced in large strips (or use canned roasted red peppers and strain of the juices) 2 bunches of arugula 1 large beefsteak tomato sliced 1 large whole milk mozzarella ball — sliced.

To begin wrap a brick in tin foil. Slice Ciabbatta in half across middle, remove some of the excess bread from the inside of the loaf squirt with remaining vinaigrette on both sides (or drizzle with a spoon or brush the bread with the vinaigrette on the bread) — layer one side of the bread with eggplant and zucchini then roasted red peppers, mozzarella slices, arugula, and tomatoes. Place top of bread to form a sandwich. Wrap the entire sandwich in wax paper. Place on a cutting board (or firm surface) put the tin foil wrapped brick on top of the sandwich to flatten — put the brick pressing the sandwich on the firm surface in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours, for best results let the sandwich squish overnight.

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PRESSED ITALIAN BRICK SANDWICHES (SCHIACCIATA AL MATTONE) Tuna (Tonno)
Michael White

Serves 4 (sandwich gets cut into 4 quarters)

INGREDIENTS

Tuna

1 10 ounce can Italian Tuna Fish - packed in olive oil
1/4 of a small red onion thinly sliced
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup julienne basil
1/2 of a lemon — squeezed
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

Sandwich

1 Ciabatta loaf
6 large leaves bib lettuce
2 beefsteak tomatoes — sliced
6 hard boiled eggs — sliced
6 anchovy fillets — from a can (optional)
2 tablespoons capers
1 small bag radishes — sliced thinly
4 tablespoons mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS

In a plastic or glass bowl, mix all of the above ingredients, let them stand in the refrigerator covered for 1 hour to marinate.

To begin, wrap a brick in tin foil. Slice Ciabbatta in half across middle, remove some of the excess bread from the inside of the loaf. Spread mayonnaise on the bottom of the loaf, add bib lettuce to the bottom — add the marinated tuna salad then sliced tomatoes, eggs, capers, radishes and anchovy fillets (optional). Wrap the entire sandwich in wax paper — place on a cutting board (or firm surface) put the tin foil wrapped brick on top of the sandwich to flatten. Put the brick pressed sandwich on the firm surface in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours, for best results let the sandwich squish overnight.

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