In the heart of Chicago's vibrant culinary scene lies a sandwich that has captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike: the iconic Italian beef sandwich. This delectable sandwich, believed to have originated in the early 1900s, is a masterpiece of flavors and textures that pays homage to the city's rich Italian heritage. From its humble beginnings in a modest lunchroom to its current status as a citywide sensation, the authentic Italian beef sandwich has become a symbol of Chicago's culinary identity. Embark on a culinary journey to discover the secrets behind this beloved sandwich, as we delve into its history, explore its ingredients, and guide you towards creating the perfect Italian beef sandwich experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHICAGO ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH
Steps:
- Rub meat with dry ingredients, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
- Add meat to a roasting pan with bacon fat, add onions and garlic, saute for 15 minutes, deglaze with wine, and add Worcestershire sauce, beef stock and bay leaves.
- Place roasting pan in the oven and cook for 3 hours, uncovered, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 135 degrees F in center. Remove, let cool, then slice very thin.
- Cool broth in roasting pan and remove the fat that rises to the top. Strain.
- Reheat the broth, and add the sliced meat. Place some meat on each toasted roll, ladle with some broth and top with giardiniera vegetables and red peppers.
FAVORITE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
I'm a paramedic/firefighter, and slow-cooked recipes like this one suit my unpredictable schedule. My husband and children and the hungry bunch at the firehouse love these robust sandwiches that have a little zip. -Kris Swihart, Perrysburg, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 8h20m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Drain the pepperoncini, reserving liquid. Remove and discard stems of peppers; set peppers aside. Cut roast into large chunks; place a third of the meat in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add water., In a small bowl, combine the seasonings; sprinkle half over beef. Layer with half the remaining meat, then the onion and pepperoncini. Pour pepperoncini liquid over the top. Add remaining meat to slow cooker; sprinkle with remaining seasonings., Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 8-9 hours. Shred beef with 2 forks. Using a slotted spoon, serve beef and peppers on rolls.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 376 calories, Fat 15g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 86mg cholesterol, Sodium 1132mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 31g protein.
ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
Giardiniera is an Italian relish of pickled vegetables; in the US, it is very popular in Chicago. Ree's recipe here is a quick version which she serves on sandwiches.
Provided by Ree Drummond Bio & Top Recipes
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- For the giardiniera: Combine the carrots, pepperoncini, jalapeños, roasted red peppers, olive oil, pepperoncini liquid, garlic powder and pepper in a bowl. Toss well, then set aside.
- For the beef: Remove the sirloin from the freezer and, using a mandoline or a sharp knife, cut into very thin strips against the grain. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan. Add the beef and sauté until starting to brown, but still pink, about 2 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and garlic, then cook for 30 seconds. Add the broth and vinegar, then bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat.
- Place 3 slices of provolone on each roll. Top with the hot beef. Sprinkle with some of the giardiniera. Serve with extra broth on the side for dipping.
ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
Lorriane Pierce was a master cook. Whenever these were on the menu, lines would form. Serve on crusty Italian bread.
Provided by Dick Pierce
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time P1DT2h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Make slits in roast with a sharp knife, and insert garlic slivers. Place roast in a pan not much larger than the roast. Pour water into pan, and season roast with salt, black pepper, red pepper, and oregano.
- Cover, and bake in preheated oven for 2 hours, basting occasionally. Remove from oven, and let cool in roasting pan. Meat should be very rare. Wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, Remove roast from pan, and slice as thinly as possible. Add a little water to roasting pan, and heat on stovetop, but do not boil. Stir to blend seasonings. When au jus is hot, add sliced beef just long enough to heat through. Serve on crusty Italian bread with au jus available for dipping.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 493.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.3 g, Cholesterol 138.3 mg, Fat 32.7 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 45.2 g, SaturatedFat 12.9 g, Sodium 985.2 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
Beef up your meal with these hearty sandwiches - ready in 30 minutes! Perfect if you love Italian cuisine.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cut beef into 1/4-inch slices; cut slices crosswise in half.
- Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion, basil and oregano; stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes or until vegetables are lightly browned and tender.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add beef, broth and Worcestershire sauce to skillet. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove beef mixture with slotted spoon; divide beef mixture among rolls. Serve sandwiches with broth for dipping.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 320, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 720 mg
EASY ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
These party-sized sandwiches make the meal! Just add your favorite Italian salad on the side. If you like, top the sandwiches with some sliced provolone. -Troy Parkos, Verona, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 5h20m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cut roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, cayenne and pepper. Add water. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or until meat is tender. , Remove roast; shred meat with 2 forks and return to the slow cooker. In a large bowl, combine the pepperoncini, peppers, garlic, soup mix and Worcestershire sauce; pour over meat. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or until peppers are tender. , Spoon beef mixture over the bottom halves of bread; replace bread tops. Cut each loaf into 6 sandwiches.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 428 calories, Fat 14g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 74mg cholesterol, Sodium 661mg sodium, Carbohydrate 43g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 29g protein.
CHICAGO JOHNNY'S ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH RECIPE (CHICAGO STYLE BEEF)
Categories Sandwich Beef Cheese Pepper Bake Braise Roast Fourth of July Father's Day Summer
Yield 8 people
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Puree the following together in a food processor: garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, oregano, black pepper, sweet paprika, crushed red pepper, onion powder, granulated garlic, sea salt. Sear your roast in a hot pan, stovetop. Use a spatula to rub your pureed spices onto your roast. Put your rubbed roast & any juices from searing into a deep glass or metal dish & add 16 oz. of beef stock; place into a preheated 225 degree oven for 90-120 minutes, depending on the size of your roast. Put your roast & gravy into two separate dishes & refrigerate them overnight. Slice your roast as thin as you can without shaving it. Put your gravy into a pot & bring to a simmer; put your thinly sliced beef into the simmering gravy until cooked through; this process will only take moments. Compile your sandwich with any/or all of the following: provolone, mozzarella, Italian beef, Chicago Johnny's Giardiniera, sweet peppers*. Using tongs, grab your whole sandwich & "dip" it into your simmering gravy for a flavorful Italian beef. *To make sweet peppers, slice 2-3 green bell peppers & sauté in olive oil, 7-10 cloves garlic, 1 tea black pepper, 2 tea sea salt; cook until peppers just start to soften.
CHICAGO-INSPIRED ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH
I tried to combine the traditional Italian beef sandwich with the French dip sandwich with a little nod to the pulled pork sandwich. Instead of using thinly sliced roast beef, I used stew beef, with apologies to my friends from Chicago.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Season beef with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a heavy pot over high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil until browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Stir garlic, vinegar, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, thyme, rosemary, 1 teaspoon black pepper, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes into beef. Pour enough chicken broth into beef mixture to cover the meat by 1 inch and bring to a simmer.
- Cover pot with a lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer until meat is fork-tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Transfer meat with a strainer or slotted spoon to a separate pot; pour about 1/4 cup of meat broth into pot. Use a wooden spoon to gently break meat into smaller chunks. Cover pot with a lid or aluminum foil and keep warm.
- Skim excess grease from top of broth remaining in the first pot; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover pot with a lid or aluminum foil and keep broth warm.
- Lay halves of a roll out on a work surface and spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons meat broth over each half. Top bottom half of roll with a generous portion of meat and a spoonful of pickled vegetables. Place tops on sandwich. Repeat with remaining buns, broth, meat, and pickled vegetables to make 3 more sandwiches.
- Spoon hot meat broth into ramekins and top each ramekin with 1/2 teaspoon parsley. Serve sandwiches with hot broth for dipping.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 406 calories, Carbohydrate 35.7 g, Cholesterol 78.7 mg, Fat 15.7 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 29.3 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 1398.8 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
CHICAGO STYLE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES (CROCK POT VERSION)
Chicago style Italian beef sandwiches. A real favorite among Chicagoan locals. This is one of the best sandwiches that you can eat in Chicago...especially with the giardinara or sweet peppers.
Provided by Doreen_2
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 8h10m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a crock pot combine all of your ingredients (except for the rolls and giardinara) and let it cook on low for 8 hours until the meat is tender and falling apart.
- Remove the meat from the au jus and shred it with a fork until it is finely shred.
- Return the meat to the crock pot full of au jus to get warm for 20 minutes.
- After the meat is warmed, fill the buns with meat, ladle or dip the sandwiches with au jus.
- For Chicago authenticity, add hot or mild giardiniera to the sandwiches or the sweet green bell peppers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 850.3, Fat 54.5, SaturatedFat 17.8, Cholesterol 193.5, Sodium 2724.6, Carbohydrate 21.4, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 0.2, Protein 64.8
Tips:
- Choose high-quality Italian beef. Look for a roast that is well-marbled and has a good amount of fat. This will help to ensure that the beef is tender and flavorful.
- Slice the beef thinly against the grain. This will help to make the beef more tender and easier to eat.
- Season the beef generously with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. This will help to give the beef a delicious flavor.
- Cook the beef in a slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours. This will help to tenderize the beef and make it fall-apart tender.
- Serve the beef on a toasted Italian roll with your favorite toppings. Some popular toppings include giardiniera, sweet peppers, and mozzarella cheese.
Conclusion:
Authentic Italian beef sandwiches are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a party or a casual weeknight dinner. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a sandwich that is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give Italian beef sandwiches a try.
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