Dempster’s #DIYSandwich

Last updated on February 21st, 2021 at 09:26 pm

If one thing unifies my friends and me, it’s food. Sarah’s always said that I merely eat to live—I don’t salivate at the thought of delicious meals, but let’s get one thing straight—I know delicious food when I taste it!

Since becoming a parent, I don’t get out much. Save a birthday party, I spent March largely as a shut-in, wavering from my routine of work, home and church only for trips to the parents and the dentist. While the days of luxurious ice cream and dining at 350 metres are behind me for now, it doesn’t mean I can’t eat tasty food at home!

This year, Dempster’s challenged me to change my thinking on the sandwich, seeing whether I could eat them for dinner instead of lunch! Though it’s the last thing I’d expect on a plate to finish a long day, what is a sandwich really but a stack of deliciousness between two slices of bread?

So with my limited culinary skills, there was only one place to find a recipe that would make for amazing sandwich fare—the Internet. More specifically, Epicurious, the one-stop-shop for leaving your taste buds senseless! Without further ado, let’s drive into a pork sandwich that’ll knock your socks off!!!

Hot Slow-Roasted Pork, Onion, and Mozzarella Sandwiches

Recipe:

• 9 lbs pork shoulder
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 1½ teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground in mortar with pestle or spice grinder
• A teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Vegetables:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound onions, halved, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 pound red bell peppers, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
• ½ pound green bell peppers, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
• 1 package Dempster’s Deluxe White Hamburger Buns
• 1½ pounds fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

For pork:

Chop garlic on work surface. Sprinkle with 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt and mince until paste forms. Transfer paste to small bowl; mix in parsley and next 7 ingredients. Using small sharp knife, make 20 evenly spaced 1-inch-long, 2-inch-deep slits in pork. Stuff seasoning mixture into slits. Sprinkle outside of pork with salt and pepper. Let stand 1 hour for seasonings to penetrate.

Place pork in slow cooker on low for 7 hours.

Pour leftover juices from roasting pan into 4-cup measuring cup. Spoon off fat. If necessary, add enough water to degreased juices to measure 2 cups. Stir 2 tablespoons juices and cornstarch in small saucepan until cornstarch dissolves; whisk in remaining juices and vinegar. Whisk over medium heat until sauce boils and thickens, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For vegetables:

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and all peppers; sauté until vegetables are tender and brown, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Arrange Dempster’s Deluxe White Hamburger Bun bottoms on work surface; mound with warm pork and drizzle with sauce. Cover with cheese, vegetables, and bun tops. Serve warm.

Do-ahead tip:

The pork, sauce, and vegetables can be made one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate everything separately. Before serving, reheat pork, covered, in 350°F oven about 40 minutes; rewarm sauce and vegetables over medium heat.

Born and Bread to be Fed Instead!

So if you’re looking for a delicious sandwich to eat—or have a stellar recipe to share yourself—you should consider Appehtite.ca, Maple Leaf Foods’ new site for sharing recipes and connecting with other Canadian chefs who’re doing the same! You can feel free to learn more there, or even discover more about the Dempster’s DIY Sandwich challenge on their site, Twitter or Instagram!

If you’re at the day’s end and you don’t know what’s for dinner, consider the highly underrated sandwich! It can be delicious, nutritious, and rival just about any dish that doesn’t involve any bread. They’re versatile, portable and all sorts of filling—the sandwich. It’s time to give it another shot.

[Disclaimer: Maple Leaf Foods got in touch with me to write some posts on their DIY Sandwich brand! Though the work’s paid, the opinions are all mine—and the sandwich? Truly delicious! Enjoy!]