Open Face Sausage and Crispy Broccoli Sandwich with Cheese Sauce

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This sandwich is a mash up between the desire to have a boardwalk sausage sandwich but yet still something a little bit different. Whenever I make sausage and peppers I do add a little balsamic vinegar to the mix. I know it is not traditional but it really cuts through the grease and adds something special.

This sandwich is so many layers of delicious. Each element is pretty simple to make. After a little bit of prep work it comes together in about 30 minutes or less!

ingredients

• 1 lb Sweet Italian Sausage, crumbled

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 3/4 cup pepper (red or yellow), chopped

• 1 tbsp shallot, chopped

• 1 1lb sweet Italian sausage, crumbled

• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• kosher salt

• black pepper

• 4 slices of Italian Bread or two french baugettes

• 1 tsp dried parsley

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• unsalted butter

• Broccoli

  • 1 head of broccoli, cut into florets

  • 2 tsp olive oil

  • kosher salt

  • black pepper

• Cheese Sauce

  • 1 tbsp butter

  • 1 tbsp flour

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese ( I used cheddar)

  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

1. Place the broccoli florets on a medium size baking sheet with sides. Drizzle olive and sprinkle the salt and pepper over top. Toss the the broccoli florets to make sure they are well coated.

2. Place them in the oven for about 20 minutes, until the broccoli tops get crispy and charred.

3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan, over medium high heat. Once the olive is warm add in the pepper and shallot, saute for a 2 minutes. Frequently stirring.

4. Add in the sausage and saute it until brown. This process takes about 10- 12 minutes. Break up the sausage with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks.

5. After the sausage begins to brown add the balsamic vinegar, a pinch of salt, and pepper, stir to combine. Saute for about another minute. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and set aside until ready to make the sandwich.

Cheese Sauce

1. In a medium size saute pan melt 1 tablespoon of butter, then whisk in the flour until smooth.

2. Add in the whole milk, whisking constantly as it becomes warm, about 5 minutes.

3. Once the milk is warm (not bubbling) remove from the heat and whisk in the shredded cheese, then the Parmesan cheese until smooth.

Italian Bread

1. Place the Italian bread on a baking sheet, or large sheet of tin foil. Put 3 or so pieces of unsalted butter on each slice. Then season with parsley and garlic powder.

2. Toast in oven at the same temperature as the broccoli. Keep an eye on it! It only takes about 4 minutes to start to brown and crisp up.

Putting it Together

1. Arrange each piece of bread on a plate.

2. Top with about 1/2 cup of sausage meat per piece of bread, then broccoli, and pour over cheese sauce and serve.

RECIPE NOTES: I like to give the crispy broccoli a rough chop to help it lay better on the sandwich. Also, if want a little heat you can whisk in a teaspoon of tabasco sauce to the cheese sauce!

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