BitterSweet

Midnight Cravings

August 24, 2020

There’s no accounting for midnight cravings. In the dark of night, after all reasonable people have long since retired to their beds, strange things can happen in an unguarded kitchen. It’s a crime of opportunity, based as much on cravings as availability, the resulting creations are a whole different sort of guilty pleasure. Guided by a vague desire for something savory, restricted to the contents of a poorly managed pantry, there’s no telling what Frankenstein foods could be wrought from the scraps.

Originally devised by those same conditions in a faraway land, the medianoche literally translates to “midnight,” and is so named for its popularity in Havana’s night clubs, served sometime around the witching hour. Similar to a Cuban sandwich, it traditionally layers various forms of pork, mustard, Swiss cheese, sweet pickles on bread; all staples you could easily dig out of a mostly bare kitchen on a whim.

Granted, I’m not exactly out late partying when this nighttime hunger gnaws away at my stomach. Quietly shuffling around in my pajamas, I’d much rather pile all those goodies into a bowl than try to manage a handheld stack. Uncoordinated in my finest hours, my ability to eat neatly declines precipitously with every passing hour. Sandwich fillings would stay between the bread for approximately 2.5 seconds before ejecting unceremoniously onto the floor at that rate.

That’s why the concept of a bread salad is so ingenious. It’s the full sandwich experience that you can eat with a fork, no muss, no fuss, and no judgement. Perhaps the contents are still a bit unconventional, but this is one crazy concoction I wouldn’t hesitate to share in the light of day.

Yield: Makes 1 - 2 Servings

Medianoche Panzanella

Medianoche Panzanella

Turning the classic midnight sandwich into a salad is a snap! Crisply toasted bread is tossed together with meatless franks instead of ham, along with sweet pickles. vegan cheese, and a tangy mustard dressing. You'll want to eat this new rendition at all hours of the day.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Hoagie Rolls, Cut into 1-Inch Cubes
  • 2 Meatless Hotdogs, Diced
  • 1/2 Cup Sliced Bread and Butter Pickles
  • 4 Vegan Swiss Cheese Slices, Chopped, or 1/2 Cup Shredded Vegan Mozzarella
  • 1/4 Cup Vegan Mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper

Instructions

  1. Spread the cubed hoagie rolls out on a small baking sheet and either toast in a counter top oven until golden, or bake in a traditional oven at 375 degrees for about 6 - 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't burn. Let cool.
  2. Toss the cooled bread into a large bowl along with the diced hot dogs, pickles, and cheese.
  3. In a seperate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir until smooth and pour all over the salad ingredients.
  4. Toss well to combine. Serve immediately.

Notes

If celiac, use gluten-free hot dog buns instead of hoagie rolls.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1380Total Fat: 106gSaturated Fat: 52gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 43gCholesterol: 260mgSodium: 1934mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 76g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimates.

© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: Cuban / Category: Salads and Sides

The post Midnight Cravings appeared first on BitterSweet.

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