Bottom Line: The Hotshot Italiano from Subway brings a little bit of a kick to the chain’s usually good deli sandwiches.
If you are looking for a break from burgers and chicken sandwiches but still craving something spicy, there are several sandwich shops out there that should be able to kick things up for you. Subway is the largest sandwich chain in the country (and one of the biggest fast food franchises), and their Spicy Italian (which starts with a base of spicy pepperoni, salami, and cheese) has a bit of a bite to it. But they have recently offered an amped-up version of that as part of their “Subway Series” called the Hotshot Italiano which brings even more of a kick to the sandwich.
The Hotshot Italiano is made up of the following ingredients: Genoa salami, spicy pepperoni, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, tomato, red onions, provolone cheese, and MVP Parmesan Vinaigrette. They recommend Italian bread, but I went with wheat instead (pretending to be sort of healthy). You can add or subtract ingredients as you choose, but I went with the recommended construction apart from the bread. I also got mine toasted.
That vinegar tang from the dressing hits first with a note of herbs and a nice sweetness (the red onions likely contribute to the sweet as well). Then you get the saltiness of the meat along with savory and a slight kick of spice from the pepperoni. The provolone does not stand out too much, but it does deliver a nice, melty creaminess in the background. It takes a bite or two before you get the pucker from the pickled jalapenos, but those blend in well with the other flavors. The veggies are fresh and offer a good balance to the meats, and there is not too much of that shredded lettuce so that it doesn’t fall out with every bite. The wheat bread adds some earthiness to the sandwich and works well with the ingredients it is holding together.
Despite the jalapenos and spicy pepperoni (which is more savory than spicy), this only gets to about Mild on my scale. But it still has a nice kick to it for a deli sandwich and may satisfy your need for spice if you are not looking for too much burn. Some spicy giardiniera would have really kicked this to the next level, but Subway does not offer that. Maybe next time I will bring the sandwich home where I have a jar of the Marconi Hot Giardiniera in the fridge. Otherwise, I will probably just ask for extra jalapenos.
Now Subway likes to advertise the “Eat Fresh” motto and they suggest that their offerings are healthier than most fast food selections. And that is true is true if you order something like the turkey and hold the mayo. But the Hotshot Italiano is not one of their lite sandwiches. A six-inch alone runs 620 calories and adds on 38 grams of fat! That’s more than a Big Mac and not too far from a Whopper. And the sandwich also tacks on 1750mg of sodium. You better resist that urge to get one of their fresh-baked cookies and also plan on having just steamed veggies for dinner after pounding down one of these. And penance at the gym will be required if you devour the entire footlong!
The Subway Series, which includes around two dozen signature sandwiches, appears to be a permanent menu fixture. But then nothing in the fast food industry is really permanent (just ask Jared), so don’t be surprised if they tweak those offerings at some point. But since you can build a sandwich the way you like, it is never really gone as long as they have the components in the store. You can find a Subway on pretty much any corner, and the Hotshot Italiano is worth a try. You just may need to tweak it some if you are looking for a significant amount of spice.
Nutrition Info:
Serving Size: 6-Inch Sandwich
Calories: 620
Fat: 38g (14g Sat/1g Trans)
Protein: 26g
Carbs: 43g
Sodium: 1750mg