Braided Meatball Sandwich

Why do take-out when you can make my Braided Meatball Sandwich?   These braided sandwiches feed a crowd and are very popular.  Kids love them and your wallet will thank you.  I have leftover meatballs from making my lasagna and I want to switch it up a bit for supper.  Served with a fresh salad, this is the perfect meal for us.  The plus side with only the two of us is that there will be leftovers.  LOL

Everything and anything goes in this sandwich.  I sometimes make my own dough, but today I am using store bought puff pastry.  I have also used crescent rolls to make this.  Along with the meatballs, I sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms.  I use sliced provolone and I serve the marinara sauce on the side.

Meatballs are very versatile, they are more than little meat rounds over pasta.  Experiment with them to make a variety of meals.  Change-up the meat and texture when you make meatballs.  A great way to make them new again is to experiment with sauces.  I have a wonderful grape jelly sauce that I will share with you later.  A friend of mine makes a spaghetti squash meatball casserole.  The possibilities are endless!!

For some great meatball recipes visit my friend @damianoofbrooklyn on Instagram.  

Ingredients for Braided Meatball Sandwich

• small meatballs  and for the recipe see:  https://recipesatmytable.com/italian-meatballs/
• 8 slices of provolone cheese
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1 large onion diced
• 2 large peppers sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan
• 1 cup marinara sauce on the side
• Two sheets of store bought puff pastry  ( you could also use dinner rolls or pie pastry for this)

Process

Fry up the peppers, onions and mushrooms.

I bake my tiny meatballs in the oven.

I unroll the dough and leave it on the parchment paper. Use two 10 X 10 squares.  With a sharp knife  cut strips along both sides of the rectangle. Leave a nice wide corridor down the centre. 

Place the cheese on the bottom.  Follow with the sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms.

Now place the meatballs.

Overlap the strips all the way down, as if you are braiding hair.  Beat the egg and brush it on the braid.  Sprinkle the Italian seasoning and the parmesan cheese over the braid.

Place in a 400 F oven for 15 minutes. I keep it on parchment paper.

Out of the oven and cooling.

Served with marinara on the side.