The Lunch Lady
Godfather sauce
Creamy cherry-pepper sauce with garlic and lemon. Blend the flavorful base, then whisk in the mayonnaise by hand. Spoon it onto Italian beef before the sandwich takes a dip in the jus.
Published
- Servings
- About 1 5/8 cups, enough for 10 to 12 sandwiches
- Total time
- About 10 minutes
The sauce for the beef
The Godfather sauce was a hit with the Italian beef. A little heat, some tang and freshness against all that savory meat. I build mine with the sauce, banana peppers and a good crusty roll, then dip it in the jus.
The trick is to blend the sour cream, cherry peppers, garlic and lemon first. Once that base is smooth, whisk the mayo in by hand. It keeps the sauce creamy.
Hot cherry-pepper spread gives this version its kick. If you want it milder, use drained jarred roasted red peppers instead. Taste the pepper spread before you start so you know how much heat you're working with.
In the kitchen
Recipe video
Home recipe
Godfather sauce
The Lunch Lady · Jared Veldheer
- Servings
- About 1 5/8 cups, enough for 10 to 12 sandwiches
- Prep time
- About 10 minutes
- Cook time
- No cooking
- Total time
- About 10 minutes
Equipment: Small food processor or immersion blender with a narrow cup, bowl and whisk
Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you go.
Instructions
Blend the base, then whisk
- Blend the sour cream, cherry-pepper spread, garlic and lemon juice until smooth. A narrow cup with an immersion blender or a small food processor works well for this amount.
- Scrape the base into a bowl. Add the mayonnaise and whisk it in by hand until evenly combined. Do not put the mayo through the blender.
- Taste with a little beef or bread. Add salt only if needed, starting with a pinch, and a few more drops of lemon if you want it brighter.
- Spread on Italian beef sandwiches, add banana peppers and dip the finished sandwich in jus.
Recipe notes
- The school batch was mixed to taste. These home quantities make about 1 5/8 cups; pepper brands and lemon size will change the final flavor a little.
- For a milder sauce, replace the hot cherry-pepper spread with the same amount of drained jarred roasted red peppers. Taste and adjust the lemon and salt.