October 24, 2023
Happy National Bologna Day! Who knew that there was such a thing?! Growing up, I loved bologna. Do you remember the jingle, "my bologna has a first name"? Well, growing up in Pittsburgh, my bologna had a different name. We always called it "jumbo". I didn't realize that was a Pittsbughese name for it until I moved away.
There used to be this amazing sandwich and ice cream counter, called Isaly's, right down the Allegheny River from me. They actually created the Klondike Bar and are known for their chipped ham sandwiches. But I always loved their bologna or "jumbo". My mom would fry it in butter so that it would crisp up. It was so delicious on a sandwich cooked this way. I still love Fried Jumbo Sandwiches to this day!
In honor of National Bologna Day, try making a Fried Jumbo Sandwich! It's an easy meal that you and your family will love. Did anyone else grow up eating these? Or is it a Pittsburgh thing?
Fried "Jumbo" or Bologna Sandwich
Ingredients:
2 slices of fresh white bread
3 to 4 slices of jumbo/bologna
1 tbsp butter
Yellow mustard
Mayonnaise
American cheese (optional)
Lettuce
Make 4 cuts to the outside edges of the bologna to help it cook evenly (please see the picture below).
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the jumbo/bologna to the pan and cook for 2 minutes.
Flip the jumbo/bologna and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and nice and crispy. If you would like to add cheese, do it now so that it melts.
Put mustard on one slice of bread and mayonnaise on the other slice of bread.
Add the cooked jumbo/bologna and cheese to one slice of bread.
Top with lettuce and the other slice of bread, cut in half and enjoy!
Just one bite of this delicious Fried Jumbo Sandwich brings me right back to my childhood. I love how foods can do that! And when I make this sandwich, I go "all in" with this using white bread and iceberg lettuce! It is perfect for the crispy fried bologna!