South American (sandwich)
| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Minnesota, US |
| Region or state | Iron Range |
| Created by | Mike Giacomo |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | minced meats |
| Variations | pepperoni |
The South American is a sandwich from Minnesotan cuisine. It is similar to a sloppy joe, and originated in the Iron Range of Minnesota. The sandwich is a bar snack made of several kinds of minced meat, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and celery.[1][2] An Italian variation includes chopped pepperoni.[3]
Origin and name
The sandwich was invented at the Spaghetti Inn in Gilbert, Minnesota by Mike Giacomo, who created the sandwich from leftovers when a drunk resident turned up at the inn and demanded a meal. The etymology of the name is unknown, however it could possibly be due to the perceived exotic nature of South America.[4]
References
- ^ Hunter, Patrick (2020-01-20). "South Americans: Sloppy Joe meets the American Southwest | The Practical Herbalist". Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Diane (2016-02-04). "South Americans – Iron Range Bar Sandwiches". Diane's Food Blog. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Behymer, Jim (2024-12-31). "Feeding a Crowd: the Iron Range's Porketta | Sandwich Tribunal". Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Behymer, Jim (2022-07-30). "South American Sandwiches (of Northeastern Minnesota) | Sandwich Tribunal". Retrieved 2025-08-07.