Jimmy John's Hops On The Pickle Sandwich Trend. But Is It Good?
Move over, Unwich. Jimmy John's has introduced a new (and dare I say, improved) carb-free alternative to its classic sandwich. But this time, instead of wrapping your fave meats, cheese, and toppings in lettuce, the chain is replacing the bread with a giant kosher pickle instead.
The Picklewich, which "combines all the signature fresh flavors of a classic Jimmy John's sandwich," is joining menus for a limited time in two styles: The Vito Picklewich and the Turkey Picklewich. As a self-proclaimed sandwich connoisseur that's always looking for a healthier way to get my fix, I happily volunteered to try the new creation for myself.
I ordered both the Vito Picklewich, which includes salami, capocollo, provolone cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, sauce, and herbs on a gutted kosher dill pickle; and the Turkey Picklwich, with turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion on the same pickle "bun."
As a pickle fan, I was pretty confident that I wasn't going to hate this sandwich. However, I wasn't so sure it could really satiate my craving for a classic sub on bread. I was even more apprehensive about whether it would hold up during delivery. Would the Picklewich still boast the same crunch? Would the meat just soak up all the pickle flavor?
I was pleasantly surprised when I unwrapped the Picklewich to find it looking fresh and intact. And while it was a little tough to get my mouth around the oversized kosher pickle, I was met with a blast of familiar flavors with the first bite. The pickle itself had just the right amount of crunch, while its taste didn't overpower the other ingredients like I was worried it would.
It was light and healthy (the sandwich has between 150 and 350 calories), however, it still filled me up enough so that I didn't need an afternoon snack afterwards.
While Jimmy John's has not come out and credited its inspiration, pickle sandwiches made a splash on TikTok well before the launch. New Jersey sub shops Elsie's
and Lenny & John's have gone viral on social media for selling sandwiches on pickles.
"I started making Sub in a Tub—and make subs on pickles, cucumbers, anything that wasn't bread," Elsie's owner Tish Reddington told Delish. "It really took off from there. In the last five years, pickles have just become such a huge thing."
Jimmy John's version will be available on menus through November 14. You can also try the chain's pickle chips for a zesty and vinegar-y crunch.
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