We’ve taken a few liberties with the traditional preparation. Contrary to the usual practice, we salt and pepper the meat and vegetables first, and we have used a much better cheese than the typical bland, rubbery provolone or, even worse, that yellow stuff. Be sure to include pickled peppers ­ they really make the sandwich sing ­ and if you have a taste for the hot stuff, sprinkle on plenty of your favorite bottled sauce.

 

For Each Sandwich:

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced onions (optional)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green bell pepper (optional)
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• One 8- to 10-inch Italian roll, preferably very fresh, with a good chewy crust, or an 8- to 10-inch piece of French baguette
• 4 to 5 ounces thinly sliced raw top round, sirloin tip, eye of the round, or boneless eye of chuck
• 2 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
• 2 or 3 red or green Italian pickled cherry peppers, cut into chunks (optional)
• Bottled hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

If you’re going to use the onion and pepper, sauté them separately in small saucepans with 1 tablespoon olive oil in each until soft, stirring often. The onion will take 10 to 12 minutes, the pepper a little less, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside.

Using your thumbs, split the roll or bread open without totally separating the 2 halves. Set aside.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Put the meat in and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Turn after 30 seconds and season with salt and pepper again. After 30 seconds more, place 2 slices of cheese over the meat, remove from the pan with a spatula, and set aside.

Spread the onion and green pepper, if using them over the roll. Put the meat and cheese on top. Garnish with the optional pickled peppers and hot sauce. Serve at once with plenty of napkins.