On TikTok, an elaborate recipe for a "Grinder Salad Sandwich" is everywhere. The app says that videos related to "grinder salad" have been viewed 925 million times and despite its complexity, many commenters say they can't wait to recreate it. I was one of them.
The sandwich is inspired by traditional Italian "grinders," a term used to refer to sandwiches with hot fillings. The recipe is in parts extremely detailed (the tomatoes "gotta be this thick") and requires a staggering 21 ingredients, including six different types of meat.
The recipe was first shared on TikTok on March 28 by 29-year-old Gray Fultz, whose boyfriend came up with it while working as the owner of his own restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. As the recipe spread across the app, people started to put their own twists on the original recipe, using different meats and ingredients and sharing their creations on TikTok.
Since Fultz's recipe was sparking so much discussion on the app, I thought it might be fun to make it for myself, to see if it was worth all the hype.
I was hesitant at first because there were so many steps to the recipe and lots of ingredients to incorporate, but I eventually plucked up the courage to attempt this seemingly mammoth task.
Here's how it went.