Italian Sub Salad

Italian Sub Salad
SERVES 4 TO 6

I love Jersey Mike’s. And it’s not just because I’m from New Jersey. Or that I live for a high/lowbrow food moment. It’s because of the lettuce/salad/Mike’s concoction on each sandwich. The combination of red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, dried oregano, and a splattering of pickled vegetables sends me. This salad is an ode to that.

1 head iceberg lettuce, quartered
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced plus a few fronds for fun
1 cup olives, smashed with pits removed
1 cup thinly sliced celery, plus a few leaves for fun
1/2 cup pickled banana peppers
Calabrian chili paste, a few dollops based on spice level preferences
Pecorino cheese, to taste
Salt, to taste
Dried oregano, to taste
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Lay the iceberg on a large platter. Garnish evenly with the shallot, fennel, olives, celery, and banana peppers. Dot with the chili paste (this will mix when tossed) and douse with cheese. Sprinkle with the salt and dried oregano (this is the key!), and then drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar.