The Perfect Meatball Sandwich

I know the Meatball Sub (or Hoagie, or Grinder, or Hero, or however you refer to the idea of putting meatballs between bread) is not new. Still, I feel like I've come upon a particularly exciting new sandwich combination. Here me out. Try it for yourself. Then, write your local Meatball provider and share with them this tasty, warm, hearty lunch idea.

Garlicky Meatball Sandwich

But first, the sauce.

The Sauce

Combine equal parts Concord Grape Jelly (cheapest you can find) and Chili Sauce (the red, smooth kind, not the brown, beany mixture that goes on Chili Dogs) in a small saucepan. Heat on low while stirring.

This mixture will, at first, shock you. Do not worry. The Jelly will become less jellified as it heats, and the red chili sauce will coalesce with the purple to create a smooth, beautiful deep maroon. This is the time to drop in your meatballs.

I recommend the frozen kind, as they're easy to have on hand, and they're fun to juggle at parties. Continue to stir every so often. Ladle the sauce over the meat. Rotate each meatball so the outer surface is covered. While the meatballs + sauce simmer, prepare the sandwich elements:

-Two slices bread (Multi-Grain, Honey Wheat, or Potato -- save that Health Nut for morning toast)
-Two butter-knifefuls of Garlic Lover's Hummus, Cedar brand.
-Enough Sharp White Cheddar to cover one slice of bread.

Now: Slather one slice with hummus. Top other slice with cheese. When meatballs are done (the air above the saucepan will smell like old roses), remove about 4 and slice them 1/4" thick. Place the meat slices over the cheese. Spoon over extra sauce to cover unsauced cross-section of meatball. When fully covered, top with Hummus-coated bread, hummus-side down. Slice in half, horizontally (if you must, diagonally, but consider this carefully before doing so).

Eat while meatballs are still warm. Each bite will burst with delicious contradiction: the tangy of the sauce, the warmth of the meat, the chill of the cheese, and a creamy, garlicky finish from the hummus... I dare say this might be the perfect cold weather meatball sandwich with hummus and cheese ever. Let me know what you think.

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ADDENDUM! The above is good. This alternative version is, possibly, great.

-Substitute the Garlic-Lover's Hummus for Lemon-flavored Hummus. (optional)
-Fry an egg, until yolk is soft, i.e., not runny but not hard and crumbly, either.
-Make sandwich as above, but place egg over meatball slices.
-Once top slice is added, flip sandwich so that heat from the just-cooked egg and meatballs flows upward, beginning to melt the cheese.
-Eat at leisure.