Once this was meaty, now it’s just mouthwatering. You don’t need the meat to give this sub full-bodied Italian goodness. You’ll find a vibrant veggie in place of each type of meat. The italian veggie submarine is fit for a festive entrée for four. Serve two or three of these attention-grabbing sandwiches at your next party, too. It’s molto delizioso!

Makes 4 servings: 1 sandwich each

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1 (10-ounce) whole grain baguette (16 inches), cut in half lengthwise
• 1 (7-ounce) Italian (baby) eggplant, cut into rounds and grilled*
• 1/2 cup packed sun-dried tomatoes (2 ounces), rehydrated
• 1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves
• 4 ounces vegan provolone-style cheese slices
• 1 1/2 cups packed mesclun or baby arugula (1 1/2 ounces)
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced pepperoncini (2 ounces)

Directions

1. Whisk together the vinegar, oil, garlic, and oregano in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. Spoon or drizzle onto the cut surface of the baguette.
2. Layer the grilled eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, vegan cheese, mesclun, and pepperoncini onto the bottom portion of the baguette; firmly place on the baguette top.
3. Cut the submarine into 4 sandwiches with a bread knife and serve.

Per serving: 260 calories, 10g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 590mg sodium, 33g total carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 9g sugars, 11g protein

*To make grilled eggplant rounds, cut 1 Italian eggplant into about 12 round slices. Spritz with cooking spray. Grill over direct medium-high heat until fully cooked and grill marks form, about 5 minutes per side.

Jackie’s Culinary Nutrition Tips!

• Make your own “upside-down” vinaigrette, focusing on a robust vinegar instead of the oil
• When forgoing high-flavor meat and opting for a plant-based eat, be sure to use vegetables that are as tasty or tastier, like sun-dried tomato (for salty essence), pepperoncini (for piquancy), grilled eggplant (for smokiness), and fresh basil (for herbaceousness)
• Don’t skimp on size … a 16-inch long baguette can look as appealing—or more inviting—than a squattier Italian bread loaf
• Pile on sharp and peppery salad greens for extra volume, eye appeal, and full, fresh flavor