Italian Cucumber Subs
Crunchy mini cucumbers hollowed out and stacked with salami, ham, provolone, lettuce and tangy pepperoncini, then drizzled with an oregano vinaigrette. It’s the deli sub without the roll.
Nutrition per serving
1 cucumber sub- Net carbs
- 4.7g
- Calories
- 273kcal
- Protein
- 16g
- Fat
- 21g
- Total carbs
- 5.8 g
- Fiber
- 1.1 g
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient (optional ingredients excluded). Brands vary — check your labels if you track closely.
Ingredients
Turkey club: Turkey, crisp bacon, tomato and a smear of mayonnaise make a club-sandwich version.
- Spread the mayonnaise along the bottom halves instead of drizzling vinaigrette, then layer the provolone, turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato.
Tuna salad: Creamy tuna salad with crunchy celery in place of the cold cuts, for an easy lunch-box sub.
- Mix the tuna with the mayonnaise, celery, red onion, lemon juice and pepper. Layer the provolone and lettuce on the bottom halves, spoon on the tuna salad and close the subs.
- Subs
- Vinaigrette
- Subs
-
2 tbsp red onionleave out - Vinaigrette
-
1½ tsp red wine vinegarleave out -
½ tsp dried oreganoleave out
- Subs
-
4 slices thin-sliced deli ham or capicolaleave out -
¼ cup pepperoncinileave out - Vinaigrette
-
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oilleave out -
1½ tsp red wine vinegarleave out -
½ tsp dried oreganoleave out - Also add
Estimated cost $8.73 for 4 servings ($2.18 each) · how we estimate
Instructions
-
Halve the cucumbers lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon to make a shallow channel in each half. Pat dry with paper towels; dry cucumbers keep the fillings from sliding.
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Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, oregano and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl.
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On the bottom half of each cucumber, layer the provolone, then fold in the salami and ham. Top with the lettuce, red onion and pepperoncini and drizzle with the vinaigrette.
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Cap with the top halves, press gently and secure each sub with two toothpicks. Cut in half crosswise if you like, and eat right away.
Tips for success
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Mini (Persian) cucumbers are the perfect size for one sub. A large English cucumber cut into 4-inch (10 cm) lengths also works. - Pick straight, evenly thick cucumbers so the two halves sit together neatly.
- Pepperoncini are usually pickled in plain brine, but check the jar for added sugar.
Nice to have, not needed
- A grapefruit spoon or melon baller hollows the cucumbers neatly — a teaspoon does the job.
Storage & meal prep
- Keeps 1 day in the fridge
- Doesn’t freeze well
Reheat: Serve cold
Prep tip: For packed lunches, assemble the subs without the dressing, wrap them tightly and carry the vinaigrette in a small jar.
Best eaten right away. Wrap undressed subs tightly and refrigerate up to 1 day; add the vinaigrette just before eating.
Variations
2 variations, each with its own ingredients and macrosTurkey club
ProteinTurkey, crisp bacon, tomato and a smear of mayonnaise make a club-sandwich version.
- Genoa salami → sliced deli turkey
- thin-sliced deli ham or capicola → cooked bacon
- pepperoncini → tomato
- extra-virgin olive oil → mayonnaise
- no red wine vinegar
- no dried oregano
- no red onion
4.8 g net · 240 kcal · 16 g protein · 17 g fat · ≈$1.52 per serving (+0.1 g net carbs vs the original)
Tuna salad
ProteinCreamy tuna salad with crunchy celery in place of the cold cuts, for an easy lunch-box sub.
- Genoa salami → tuna in water (5 oz)
- + 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- + 1 stalk celery
- + 1 tsp lemon juice
- no thin-sliced deli ham or capicola
- no pepperoncini
- no extra-virgin olive oil
- no red wine vinegar
- no dried oregano
4.2 g net · 228 kcal · 17 g protein · 16 g fat · ≈$1.20 per serving (−0.5 g net carbs vs the original)
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