THE PLAYA'S CLUB

The Playa's Club image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

20 slices thinly cut pancetta
1/4 cuppine nuts
1 cup arugula (baby arugula or regular)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 slices fresh challah bread, cut about 1/3-inch thick
Japanese mayonnaise
1 pound maple-glazed turkey breast, sliced thin
4 crisp leaves red leaf lettuce

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lay out the pancetta onto an ungreased baking sheet. Place in the oven and cook the pancetta until extra crispy, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove and let cool.
For the tomato-arugula pesto: In a dry skillet over medium heat, lightly toast the pine nuts until slightly golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.
In a food processor, add the toasted pine nuts, arugula, basil, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon juice and garlic. Pulse until just combined. Slowly stream in the olive oil until the pesto has a nice rustic consistency, about 10 seconds. Season with salt and pepper.
For the sandwich build: On the bottom of a slice of challah, schmear a bit of mayo and then top with some of the turkey slices and a piece of lettuce. Schmear pesto on both sides of the second slice of challah and place it on top of the lettuce, and then more turkey and then some of the pancetta. Schmear mayo on the third challah slice and top off the sandwich. Use a toothpick to skewer the layers together. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Cut it into quarters, tip the D.J. to play your favorite jam (R-Kelly's Ignition [remix]) and get to Clubbin'.