or, This is how we do it in Indiana!
DH was reminiscing this weekend about a job he had during college in Southern Indiana at a Pizza restaurant. At that restaurant, the favorite meal of all of the employees was not pizza, rather, it was the Stromboli Sandwich. The sandwich he described was exactly the same as the Stromboli made by Hoffman House, the pizza place in the town where I grew up in Northern Indiana. Not surprising since they were both called Stromboli Sandwich, right?
Sausage Stromboli
Well, here is where it gets interesting. I’ve lived on the East Coast and the West Coast since growing up in Indiana, and have travelled to most major cities in the U.S. And you know what? I have yet to find another Stromboli that a.) is a sandwich, not a calzone-like thing, and b.) has ground sausage. Even a search on Pinterest or Google produces Strombolis that are ham, cappacola, or salami, along with the standard Mozzarella and pizza sauce. Further, they are all wrapped in bread dough or pizza dough.
That is a good Stromboli, don’t get me wrong. It just isn’t THE Stromboli, in my mind.
You know where this is going, don’t you? I HAD to make the Indiana Stromboli, a thick sandwich on crispy Italian bread, loaded with ground sausage, melty Mozzarella cheese, and pizza sauce. And something spicy. My mouth is watering. This is a must-make.
Indiana Stromboli
Ingredients
1 loaf of Italian or French bread or baguette
1 T olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
8 oz shredded Mozzarella
1 1/2 lb ground sausage (I used half Sweet and half Hot)
1 c pizza sauce or your favorite spaghetti sauce
A few pepperoncini peppers (optional)
Fresh basil leaves (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375F.
First, sauté onions in olive oil until almost translucent. Add garlic and continue to sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from pan. Set aside.
Onions and Garlic
Place sausage in hot pan. While it cooks, chop finely. Brown thoroughly. Add onion and garlic mixture to sausage.
Slice bread loaf horizontally. If desired, toast the inside surfaces of the bread in the broiler.
Spread bread with pizza sauce. Pile sausage mixture on top of sauce. Top sausage with pepperoncini slices.
Top with shredded Mozzarella. At this point, I partially hollowed out the top bread half because my sandwich fillings were so thick. Use your best judgment. Your bread may be bigger than mine, making closing your sandwich easier. Place top half of bread over the cheese.
Wrap sandwich tightly in foil. Bake 25-30 minutes. Slice into individual portions.
I like to put fresh basil leaves on my sandwich. Enjoy!
Nick’s English Hut in Bloomington IN made the best Strom i’ve ever had, same recipe as above. Ate theirs frequently when i was going to IU in early 80s. It’s still on their menu, my son had one there last week, so envious! Mother Bears had great food too, we always went there for pizza, which was in the top 10 for college towns across the country at that time. Can’t wait to make your Strom recipe! Thanks for posting it.
I think Nicks replaces the banana peppers with sweet pickles… but everything else is legit!
Mother Bears in Bloomington, Indiana. The best Stromboli!
Diane! I’ve been to Mother Bears! But unfortunately did not try the Stromboli! Good to know, though! Thanks for stopping by and for the recommendation!
The best stromboli’s I have had were from the former McKinney Pizza in Fort Wayne, and the close second was from Hoffman House in Fort Wayne. Both of these used a very similar recipe. As both of these are no longer in business, I am looking for another place that uses this same recipe. (They both used ground sausage with the ‘seeds’ showing.)
Please let me know if you know of a place that makes their strombolis the same way. I would be very grateful! Thank you.
Bill, you’ll note I mentioned Hoffman House (or was it “Haufman”? I really don’t know for sure) in my introduction to this recipe. I have to say it’s been so long since they were even open, that I’m not sure how close this one is, but that was certainly my inspiration for this – was also my Dad’s favorite!
Pizza King in South Bend has one that is described here. So does a chain in Lafayette or Rensselear, Indiana. The place is called Arnis. There are several of these in the general area.
I grew up in Lafayette. When I worked at the Lafayette theater as an usher, I would go to Arnie’sPizza King a block away. They had the best stromboli. Also the Arnie’s Pizza King at Market Square. Good times.
Best strombolis are in Evansville Indiana. Got me through college.
Good to know! I love a good Stromboli, too! Where in Evansville, BTW? I have a friend who lives there!
Kipplees
Thanks so much! I’ll let my friend know!
OMG, I am so glad I found this. Same here. The best sausage stromboli I have had was one from Arnies in Lafayette, In. I will have to this one. Looking forward to it. Thanks
I’ve actually been to the Arnies in Lafayette,, IN! (Go Boilers!) but have never tried the Stromboli! I hope you find this one as delicious (and similar) to the taste you’re looking for! Thanks for the question, I’d be interested to know if it’s what you’re looking for!
I’m frustrated the best Stromboli ever made is from Evansville Indiana at a restaurant called una tu on Governor Street there is nothing like it or taste like it they say Pizza King is the best but to me that tastes like a pizza on bread I wish I could find a way to make it down here in Florida have no clue everyone I’ve tasted here again is like a pizza on bread Una has a very unique taste I’ve tried making it myself which turned out good but still taste like a pizza on Italian bread if anybody out there knows the restaurant I’m talking about on Governor Street in Evansville Indiana please let me know
Hey my name is Darren & my friend Tony runs Una-Tu on Governor St in Evansville Indiana he is the Son of the original two Brothers who started the business long ago & yes I agree with you on most part, there Pizza is 2nd to none the best in regarding homemade authentic real Italian thin crust pizza, and I’m sure my friend will pass it down to his son keeping the family crest & customs alive! But as far as strombolis goes? Pizza King is still the home of the Original sausage Strombolis & I’ll give you two more names that’s very well as good in both fields? Especially if you loved Una Tu strombolis? #2 best in southern Indiana in Strombolis goes to Sam’s Pizzaria shop on Delaware Street Evansville Indiana 47710 there Strombolis esp the super Strom is a lot like Una tu but far more toppings & cheese they use a different bread much like Una Tu’s but Sam’s is better than Una Tu’s stroms! And the other thin crust pizza that’s more popular & has a steady constant full house 7days a week for there famous thin crust pizza that’s very similar to Una Tu’s but it very well might be a slight bit better? And that place is named? ” Turonis Brewery & Pizzaria” but the difference between them & Una Tu is that Una Tu’s large house special costs $18.50 and Toronis Brewery Pizzaria house special costs rt at $50 bucks! Therefore for a near 30$ difference? I’ll go to Una Tu’s lil place every single time! Lol I know the owner of Turonis as well & would you believe that the guy who bought it knew nothing about Pizza in the late 1960’s ! He just came into a lil money and bought the recipe rts & a small (smaller that Una Tu’s even) shop for under 2500$! Today it’s got like 7 breweries Pizzaria places & all them are booked up two stories two floors solid 7days a week! And as for Una Tu’s business? My uncle who lives up north of Indianapolis Indiana offered Una Tu’s family $10,000.00 cash in a case revealed it before the Una Tu family very eyes in cash , offered to hand the $ over just for there Sauce recipe & they didn’t even bat there eyes or give it a thought! Instead they just smiled & went back to making doe but I think they did ask my uncle if he wanted to order anything smiling as they said it! Lol that’s just one those rare things unicorn type things for today’s society that just is more sacred & highly valued more than a large lump of money can not buy? And you know what? I’m proud to seen it! Because today’s world most would sell there own souls for the rt amount of money? It’s a family heritage thing & one of those rare things that corporate take over or strong arming w/large amounts of money just can’t over run & buy out to take over that is the cause of mom & pop small business dreams go extinct today? And I hope someone who has the hope can look at Una Tu’s family business as a example so there dreams doesn’t become a false hope tyle thing? Instead through them? The dream the hope? LIVES”””” By the way? Una Tu’s # is (812)-424-8400 tell them I sent you…….. Hopefully I helped you out in any way possible & made your world/life a lil bit better in some kind of way? That’s what the Bible tells us all to do? And I’m one those who doesn’t let society take God out of the equation or from me? Through God I love & my appreciation for that is highly appreciated & blessed I will remain…. God bless you and your family my friend take care live long be loved & be blessed with your inner peace within intact & let health always be healthy! Tk care. D.Clark
I just found your recipe – I am going to try it. I have been looking for the old Red Door Pizza recipe for strombolis.
I loved that sandwich, I can’t find anything anywhere about the Red Door Pizza chain or who owned it or anything.
Do you know anything about the chain?
Glad you’re going to try it! Lmk how you like it! I’ve never heard of Red Door Pizza, but you’ve got me curious. Gonna look the up! Thanks