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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Italian sweet sausage
  • 2 tablespoons EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus additional for drizzling
  • 2 medium fennel bulbs, quartered, cored and thinly sliced (reserve a handful of fronds)
  • 2 medium or 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
  • A few sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • About 1/3 cup Pernod (licorice-flavored liqueur) or St. Germain (elderflower liqueur Johns current fave)
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 4 Italian-style, 8-inch hoagie/sub rolls
  • A handful of torn basil or a few stems of tarragon, chopped
  • Chopped flat-leaf parsley, garnish
  • Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for shaving as garnish to subs

Yield

Serves: 4

Preparation

Parboil sausages in a skillet with a few inches of water to cook through.

Meanwhile, heat EVOO, a couple of turns of the pan, in a large skillet over medium heat. Add fennel, onions, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook until very soft and tender, 15 minutes. Deglaze with Pernod or St. Germain then the white wine. Reduce at a low simmer a few minutes more.

Heat a griddle or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil to coat.

Split the sausages lengthwise but do not cut through. Brown on both sides in the hot pan. Place sausages in sub rolls and top with fennel and onions, and shaved Parmigiano cheese. Garnish with basil or tarragon, chopped fennel fronds and some parsley.