Italian Breakfast Sandwich

Every Sunday my father would go into the kitchen and become Mr. Sandwich, toasting up good slices of bread and filling them with all sorts of combinations. Some were good, some horrendous. But it turned me into a sandwich junkie. When you’re making a breakfast sandwich, there’s no time to waste. Frying the salami, sopressata is ideal because it’s generously larded, crisps up the meat and gives the sandwich body. But it’s also efficient, because you can use that same pan to make a sunny-side-up egg, glazing it with the spiciness of the rendered fat. (You can also use this trick to cook onions, peppers, or greens for a flavor boost with no extra work) There’s a lot going on in this Italian sandwich, but it has great balance: The saltiness of the meat is offset by the sweetness of the basil and the creaminess of the egg and mozzarella. Soaking sliced red onion in ice water is something I learned from my mom. It takes the raw bite out of the onion and keeps it light and crunchy. This is a rich sandwich, but it’s refreshing. And the beautiful thing is, it’s not just for breakfast.  Click here to see Make Brunch in 20 Minutes or Less — 10 Recipes.