I’m a big fan of poutine. It’s definitely one of my favorite dishes. I’ve made it the classic way (fries, curds, gravy) many times. This time I thought I’d try a totally different approach to poutine. I topped the fries with smoked BBQ pulled pork instead. A handful or two of curds and a pickle garnish and I was in poutine heaven again.
Poutine Elevated
There’s really no way to improve on this BBQ pulled pork poutine. Every bite was flat-out delicious. I used spicy hot pepper cheese curds. I think any flavor (other maybe curds infused with herbs such as rosemary or thyme) would work perfectly.
If I’m reaching for a bottled BBQ sauce, I often go for Sweet Baby Ray’s.
I thought I’d try a totally different approach to poutine and top the fries with smoked BBQ pulled pork instead. A handful or two of curds and a pickle garnish and I was in poutine heaven again.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fries, pulled pork
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 25 minutesminutes
Total Time 35 minutesminutes
Servings 4-6 servings
Calories 698kcal
Author Mike
Ingredients
1 ½poundsFrench friesfrozen, cooked per package instructions (or use fresh-made)
Drizzle with the BBQ sauce and garnish with the pickles.
Devour.
Notes
The amounts in the recipe can be changed to suit your tastes. I didn’t measure anything very closely, I just went for it. You can’t mess this up so don’t worry about amounts so much.
This easy sausage stromboli is called easy for a reason. We’d just gotten in from a long day and we were hungry. And we were too beat to throw together a huge meal. But that doesn’t mean we’d settle for lame. Just easy and fantastic. Yummy Italian sausage (spicy sausage makes it even better), pizza sauce and lots of ooey-gooey cheese all in crispy golden brown dough. Nothing fancy, nothing fru-fru, but definitely good and filling.
A Few Changes
Don’t be afraid to add a little chopped bell pepper to the onion while it is cooking up. Don’t get it too soft though, you’ll still want a bit of crunch to it. If you have extra pizza sauce on hand warm it up and serve it on the side for dipping your easy sausage stromboli.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
This easy sausage stromboli is called easy for a reason. We’d just gotten in from a long day and we were hungry and too beat to throw together a huge meal. But that doesn’t mean huge and lame. Just easy and fantastic.
Saute the onion in a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Crumble in the sausage and cook until done.
Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Flatten the dough into a rectangular shape in a 10″ x 13″ low-rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat.
Sprinkle the dough with half of the mozzarella.
Add sausage and drizzle with the sauce.
Add remaining mozzarella.
Roll the dough up working from the longest edge.
Pinch the seam and edges, and place seam-side down onto the mat.
Combine the topping ingredients and brush over the top of the dough.
Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and bake for 18 minutes.
Let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.
Serve with warmed pizza sauce for dipping if desired.
For the topping
Notes
You can add any ingredients you want inside your stromboli, but stay away from anything that is wet. Wet ingredients should be patted dry with a paper towel first.
Wow, talk about amazingly good. The heck with the main dish, just load me up on some of these Cajun shrimp-stuffed poblano peppers. A slight kick of heat, perfect shrimp and creamy melted cheese. What’s not to love?
Substitute Bell Peppers
You could use green bell peppers instead, if you want, in these Cajun Shrimp-Stuffed Poblano Peppers. I love poblanos because they are a little spicier than a bell pepper without just completely drowning out a dish in heat.
Kick ‘Em Up
For extra kick, substitute shredded pepper jack cheese for the feta and mozzarella and add a few diced roasted jalapenos into the shrimp mixture. That’ll definitely liven up the party.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
Wow, talk about amazingly good. The heck with the main dish, just load me up on some of these Cajun shrimp-stuffed poblano peppers. A slight kick of heat, perfect shrimp and creamy melted cheese.
Note: You can use pre-cooked shrimp if you desire. Just toss the shrimp with the Cajun seasoning and do not cook.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Cut the peppers in half lengthwise. Remove any stems or seeds.
If using cooked shrimp, toss the shrimp with the Cajun seasoning in a large bowl.
If using raw shrimp, heat the oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add the shrimp, sprinkle with the seasoning, and cook, turning, until done, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add the cheeses, basil and hot sauce to the shrimp Stir.
Transfer shrimp mixture to the poblanos and place on a baking sheet.
Place in oven and bake 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the peppers are softened.
Serve garnished with chopped cilantro.
Notes
Substitute jalapenos for the poblanos for an appetizer-sized kicked-up version!
The meat sauce in this stromboli sandwich is absolutely fantastic. It will be my go-to meat sauce from this day forward. I’ll use it for everything from lasagna, to spaghetti, and of course, more stromboli sandwiches. Nice and thick, but not too thick, it is packed with Italian-inspired flavors. Man, oh man, am I ever having flashbacks to the last stromboli I made with it. I just could not get enough! Each and every bite was oooooooh so very good!
The Perfect Sauce
Next time I make a batch of the sauce, I’ll probably quadruple it and store the leftovers in the freezer. A quick defrost, some cooked pasta, and I have a great main dish done in no time. You can also make this meatless and you’ll have the perfect sausage for grilled sausage sandwiches or serve it up with warmed meatballs over pasta or on French bread for a meatball sandwich.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
The meat sauce in this stromboli sandwich is absolutely fantastic. It will be my go-to meat sauce from this day forward, for everything from lasagna, to spaghetti, and of course, more stromboli sandwiches.
In a large skillet, crumble the beef and brown along with the onion. Drain any excess fat.
Add the mushrooms and bell pepper and cook for 3-5 minutes or until they are just starting to get soft.
Add the tomato sauce, tomato soup, garlic powder, dried oregano, chili powder, tomato paste and black pepper.
Stir and reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for at least 10 minutes, the longer the more the flavors will meld. If the sauce gets too thick add a bit of water.
Cut bread in half lengthwise and scoop out as much of the bread as you can.
Transfer bread to a sheet of aluminum foil.
Fill insides with the meat mixture.
Top with cheese and cover in foil.
Place on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Maybe it’s because I don’t get out enough, but I’d never heard of putting Giardiniera on a meatball sandwich before. Whomever came up with the idea should be knighted (if we knighted folks in the US). Add a bit of roasted red bell pepper and you have a super-easy-to-make incredibly yummy sandwich. Perfect any time, but also great because I almost always have the ingredients to make Giardiniera meatball sandwiches on hand.
You Can Make Them Hot, Too!
I used mild Giardiniera when making these meatball sandwiches, but hot would be fantastic too. Just chop it up a bit before spooning it on top.
I did ‘cheat’ and use frozen meatballs. If I’d had more time to throw dinner together, I would’ve made a batch of my Italian meatballs. I try to keep some on hand at all times, but truth is, they are just so good that there’s just never any leftovers.
Maybe it’s because I don’t get out enough, but I’d never heard of putting Giardiniera on a meatball sandwich before. Whomever came up with the idea should be knighted.
I love a good beefy chili. Nothing fancy. Great southwestern flavors. Oddly this McIlhenny’s chili is served with rice. I say oddly because that’s not something I would normally do. I was surprised as to how much I liked having rice in my chili.
A Broth Like No Other
The chili itself is just as great as you’d want. Tender meat with a broth that you really do want to drink up with a straw. It’s my favorite part of this McIlhenny’s chili.
The original recipe (which I modified only slightly) came from McIlhenny’s, the creators of Tabasco sauce. You know right then and there that it’s going to be fantastic. I have never had the free time when in New Orleans to go over to Avery Island and take a tour of the Tabasco plant. Next time, though, I will!
I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this chili and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!
The chili itself is just as great as you’d want. Tender meat with a broth that you really do want to drink up with a straw. It’s my favorite part of this McIlhenny’s chili.
These loaded Italian sausage sandwiches have become somewhat of a tradition in our house around New Year’s and the Super Bowl. I make a nice big batch of them and let them slow cook either on the stove or in a slow cooker, ready to eat at any time. Perfect eats for watching football games, specially college bowl games. Spicy sausage with a flavorful tomato sauce loaded with peppers, onions, and mushrooms. All topped (of course) with ooey-gooey cheese.
My Superbowl Go-To Sandwich
I’m not sure I’ve ever made my loaded Italian sausage sandwiches exactly the same way each year. Sometimes I go the spicy route, sometimes I use sweet sausages. Sometimes I add more bell peppers, sometimes I just add more mushrooms. It just kind of depends on how I feel that day. If you don’t mind spicy, add more red pepper flake and a good amount of hot sauce.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
These loaded Italian sausage sandwiches have become somewhat of a tradition in our house around New Year’s and the Superbowl. I make a nice big batch of them and let them slow cook either on the stove or in a slow cooker, ready to eat at any time.
Place the pizza and tomato sauces into a large pot over medium heat.
In a large Dutch oven, heat a splash or two of oil over medium-high heat.
Working in batches, add the sausages, browning on all sides.
Transfer browned sausages to the pot of sauce.
Add more oil to the Dutch oven and add all of the vegetables.
Saute until just starting to get soft, then transfer to the pot of sauce along with the sausages.
Season with salt and pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flake.
Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally.
Slice the bread in half. I prefer to do this by cutting a ‘V’ down the top of the bread, making a trench for the sausages and sauce. I find that the bread doesn’t split so easily this way. I also remove some of the bread inside just to make more room for the great toppings.
Cut bread into lengths a tad shorter than the sausages.
Add meat and top with sauce and a little bit of the vegetables.
Top with cheese and place on a sheet pan under the oven broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.
My wife and I recently returned from the Pittsburgh, PA area. My wife was there for a conference, and I was there for food. Right down the street from our hotel was Pizza Bella. They made the most amazingly good Italian hoagie that as soon as we returned home I had to make hoagies. And here it is in all of its glory. Great meats, cheese, and fresh toppings, all with a fantastic dressing.
Oh, What A Hoagie!
I hope I never have to decide between which is my favorite: hoagies or muffulettas. They are both fantastic sandwiches, both with a lot of Italian influence in the ingredients. One thing is for sure, though. The next time we are in the Pittsburgh area we’ll swing by Pizza Bella and grab more hoagies.
The North End Barbecue & Moonshine restaurant in Indianapolis was definitely one of my favorite restaurants. They had a fantastic menu, but for me, the best dish by far was the Texas red chili. It’s simple, spicy, and oh so packed with flavor. Smoked brisket, homemade bacon and a red sauce that I could just slurp up with a (big) straw. I can’t make it to North End BBQ (because they closed! Grrrrr!), so I decided to make my own (slightly different) version of their Texas chili. I was absolutely pleased with it. Nice and spicy, with a bit of smokiness.
Brisket For The Win
Now, you could make this smoked brisket Texas chili with just cubed chuck that has been lightly browned in the Dutch oven first. Nothing wrong with that, not one bit, but if you have smoked brisket, it really gives the chili a completely different flavor than just regular ole chili.
I roasted a few jalapenos on the grill and chopped them to use as garnish. They added even more bite and flavor to what was already a great bowl of chili.
This chili is simple, spicy, and oh so packed with flavor. Smoked brisket, homemade bacon and a red sauce that I could just slurp up with a (big) straw.
2tablespoonsmasa harinaif you don’t have any masa, take a handful of plain tortilla chips and grind them in a food processor or by hand using a mortar and pestle
Toast the chiles in a hot skillet over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes per side.
Remove to a large bowl and cover in hot water. Let sit for 30 minutes, turning once.
Remove chiles (do not discard the water). Cut off the stems and remove the seeds.
Chop lightly and transfer to a food processor.
Add the cumin, pepper and a few pinches of salt, along with 1/4 cup of the soaking liquid. Process until smooth. If needed add a bit more of the water.
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the broth and water. Bring to a simmer.
Whisk in the masa harina and add the processed chile paste.
Add the brisket and stir. Cover.
Let simmer for 2 hours or until the beef is tender, adding more broth if necessary.
Stir in the brown sugar and vinegar and add more salt to taste. Simmer another 10 minutes.
The tastiest burgers are cooked on a flat-top griddle or in a hot skillet. Unlike a grill, the fat doesn’t drip down into the fire below. Instead, it stays on the burger, keeping it moist. And the added plus of a griddle is that you get that wonderful char. These Oklahoma fried onion burgers would be your standard fantastic griddle burgers, but they have a very tasty twist: onions that are griddled into the patties. The result is divine.
Griddled Burgers Are Divine
I use a griddle insert from Weber that fits into my charcoal and gas grills to griddle burgers like these Oklahoma fried onion burgers. It not only gets super hot, it gets hot consistently across the entire griddle. This ensures that I get nice evenly cooked burgers no matter how many I am cooking at once. I absolutely love making burgers on my griddles. They don’t get that great live-fire flavor but they make up for it with that wonderful burger crust.
These Oklahoma fried onion burgers would be your standard fantastic griddle burgers, but they have a very tasty twist: onions that are griddled into the patties. The result is divine.
Toss with 1 teaspoon of salt and let rest for 30 minutes to extract as much liquid out of the onions as possible.
Transfer the onions to a towel or a few sheets of paper towels, roll up tightly and squeeze to remove as much liquid as you can.
Divide the onion slices into 4 equal piles on a cutting board or flat surface.
Divide the beef into 4 patties and form into balls.
Place beef on top of the onions and, using the palm of your hand or the bottom of a small skillet, flatten the beef into patties. The onions will stick to the bottom of the patties. That’s what you want.
Season patties with salt and pepper.
Heat up a griddle or cast iron skillet on your stove top or grill over medium-high heat.
Add the butter and swirl it around to coat the griddle or skillet.
Add the patties, onion side down, and cook for 6-8 minutes. You’ll see the onions starting to turn golden brown and get crispy around the sides.
Flip and continue cooking until the burgers are done, about 2 more minutes.
Top with cheese and remove.
Toast the buns, if desired.
Add the patties, mayonnaise, mustard, and pickles.
Notes
The key is to dry the onions so they get crispy, not sauté.
