SUBWAY: CHIPOTLE SOUTHWEST CHEESE STEAK

SAVE: 76 CALORIES, 9 G FAT, 2 G SAT. FAT

Question: How many inches is a 6" sub?

Answer: It varies.

At least in my experience at Subway, it varies. Sometimes a 6" sub was a 6" sub, sometimes it was 5½", and a few times it was 7".

So what does this mean? Well, like many restaurants, from fast food to fine dining, portions can vary. Though it’s somewhat harmless, it can of course affect the accuracy of nutritional information . . . often more than you’d think. I’ve shared more details on my Subway experience in “Sometimes It Just Doesn’t Add Up”, but here, I’ve shared the tasty recipe worth going to the extra effort for.

5–6 ounces beef top round steak or roast (at least 1½" thick)

Olive oil spray

1 tablespoon finely chopped white onion

½ tablespoon finely chopped green bell pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

1 submarine sandwich roll (about 6" long)

1 slice (½ ounce) 2% milk white American cheese, halved diagonally

½ cup shredded iceberg lettuce

1 slice large red onion (1⁄8" thick), separated into rings

3 slices tomato (1⁄8" thick)

3 slices green bell pepper (1⁄8" thick)

5 rounds dill pickle

2 medium black olives, sliced

Red wine vinegar (optional)

1½ tablespoons Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce

PLACE the beef in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes and then transfer to a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut diagonally across the grain to slice as thinly as possible, almost shaving it. Set aside 3 ounces of beef (a generous 1⁄3 cup). (Refrigerate the scraps for another recipe.)

Preheat the broiler.

Preheat a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until drops of water sizzle when splashed on the pan. Off the heat, lightly mist with oil spray. Return the pan to stove top. Add the white onion, finely chopped pepper, and the beef. Sprinkle with salt. Cook, tossing, for 2 to 4 minutes, or until the beef is no longer pink.

Meanwhile, cut partially through the roll lengthwise (so that it opens wide enough to add the sandwich ingredients). Transfer the beef mixture to the roll. Lay the cheese slices, side by side, over the beef mixture. Place on a broiler pan or sheet of aluminum foil. Broil for about 1 minute, or just until the cheese melts.

Place the lettuce evenly over the cheese. Top with the red onion, tomato, sliced pepper, pickles, and olives. Season to taste with a few splashes of vinegar, if desired. Spoon the sauce evenly over the top. Close the sandwich.

MAKES 1 SERVING

374 calories, 29 g protein, 45 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat, 4 g sat. fat, 5 g fiber

Original Subway Chipotle Southwest Cheese Steak: 450 calories, 24 g protein, 48 g carbohydrates, 20 g fat, 6 g sat. fat, 6 g fiber

BEFORE YOU START You’ll need only 3 ounces of steak for each sandwich, but a larger piece is called for in the recipe because it will make it much easier to slice paper thin. If you’re preparing 2 or more sandwiches at the same time, allow about 5 ounces of beef per sandwich.