In the realm of culinary masterpieces, the Italian beef sandwich emerges as a legend, captivating taste buds with its tantalizing flavors and mouthwatering aroma. Its roots firmly planted in the bustling streets of Chicago, the Italian beef sandwich has transcended geographical boundaries, leaving an enduring mark on the culinary landscape. The West Sider style, in particular, stands tall as a testament to the culinary prowess of the Windy City. This definitive guide will embark on a culinary journey, exploring the essential elements, preparation techniques, and variations that elevate the Italian beef sandwich to an art form. Join us as we delve into the secrets of crafting the perfect Italian beef sandwich, West Sider style!
Let's cook with our recipes!
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.
CHICAGO-STYLE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH
Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King
Time 5h5m
Yield 6 sandwiches
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- For the pot roast: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F.
- Liberally sprinkle the entire roast with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the roast on all sides until golden and caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes per side; reduce the heat if the fat begins to smoke. Transfer the roast to a plate and reduce the heat to medium.
- Add the onions and a pinch of salt and saute, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper and garlic and saute until fragrant, another minute. Deglaze with the red wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Simmer until reduced by about half, another 2 to 5 minutes. Add the stock and thyme and bring to a simmer. Adjust the seasoning of the liquid.
- Put the roast back in the pot with any accumulated juices and place in the oven, covered. Cook the roast, turning every 30 minutes and uncovering the pot for the last 30 minutes of cooking, until very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Transfer the roast to a cutting board and tent with foil. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F for the peppers and bread.
- For the sweet peppers: Toss the pepper strips with the olive oil, granulated garlic and some salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until lighter in color and softened, about 45 minutes.
- Strain the pot roast jus through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl and return to the pot. Bring to a simmer and simmer until reduced slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Keep warm.
- Once the meat has cooled a bit, remove the twine. Pull the meat into smaller chunks and return to the reduced jus until ready to build the sandwiches.
- For the sandwich build: Rub the rolls with some of the giardiniera oil and toast in the oven until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Place some beef on a roll, then some sweet peppers (with some of the oil they were cooked in), followed by some hot giardiniera. Pour a small dish of reduced jus. Quickly dunk the whole sandwich in the hot jus, then wrap in deli paper or parchment paper and wait for 2 to 3 minutes while the magic happens. Repeat with the remaining rolls and toppings. When ready, open up and eat!
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
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
FAMILY-FAVORITE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
With only a few ingredients, this roast beef is a snap to throw together. And after cooking all day, the meat is wonderfully tender. -Lauren Adamson, Layton, Utah
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 8h10m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a bowl, mix the first 7 ingredients. Place roast in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Pour pepperoncini mixture over top. Cook, covered, on low 8-10 hours or until meat is tender., Remove roast; cool slightly. Skim fat from cooking juices. Shred beef with 2 forks. Return beef and cooking juices to slow cooker; heat through. Serve on rolls. To make ahead: In a large resealable plastic freezer bag, combine the first seven ingredients. Add roast; seal bag and freeze. To use, place filled freezer bag in refrigerator 48 hours or until roast is completely thawed. Cook and serve as directed. Freeze option: Freeze cooled, cooked beef mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 278 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 735mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
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
CHICAGO-STYLE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
Makes 8 servings (it depends on how much you put in each sandwich, you may get 10) Oven 325°F at 25 minutes per pound of meat
Provided by Joseph Strain
Categories One Dish Meal
Time P2D
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place roast on a rack, in an open roasting pan, I use an 9" X 13" (230mm x 330mm) baking pan with the rack in it. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees (165 C), allowing 25 minutes per pound (55 min per kilo) , roast will be rare.
- Cool, and slice very thin, I use an electric slicer to do this. To the drippings in the pan, add the boiling water, bouillon cubes or granules, (1 bouillon cube for each cup of boiling water used). Add marjoram, thyme, oregano, hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, garlic cloves, and chopped green pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the thinly sliced beef and cover. Marinate in gravy in refrigerator overnight.
- Next day, heat thoroughly, and serve warm on the French bread, along with a crisp, green salad and plenty of napkins!
- Note: Our family loves the gravy so much that I usually double the gravy recipe so there is plenty to dip the beef sandwich into. We also like to put a lot of gravy on the bread before adding the meat. Sometimes we add barbecue sauce to the sandwich before eating it, for a different flavor, not a lot, just a touch, about 1 Tablespoon or less to taste.
- Courtesy of Joseph Strain.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 148.4, Fat 1.9, SaturatedFat 0.5, Cholesterol 0.1, Sodium 574.5, Carbohydrate 27.8, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 1.7, Protein 4.8
ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES, WEST-SIDER STYLE
These are the greatest -- and since most of my family no longer lives in or near the West Side of Chicago or its next-door neighbor suburbs, we need something to get our fix. Imagine, right after we moved, we bought "Beefs" at a stand, and to our horror, found little bitty onion chunks and CARROTS mixed in the shreds of roast beef. This was definitely NOT like "back inda naybuhhood" !! Personally, we like slices, others like shreds, but still -- the only veggies allowed to be seen are the peppers tucked in once you load your sandwich. Make sure to get a good firm Italian bread loaf or crusty, full-bodied sandwich rolls. Wimpy, airy bread and rolls won't hold the "gravy", as we call it, and it's just not a Beef without that. And speaking of the gravy, yes, you really do want to add that many spices, as they'll cook down some. Cooking/prep times do not include cooling time. Another side note -- this is a great recipe to prepare and then leave on low in a crock pot for parties.
Provided by Cinnamom in Illinois
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 19m
Yield 4 pounds
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Score the roast in a cross/diamond pattern about an inch apart, just barely into the surface of the roast. The eye of round roast is my choice for ease of prep and for thin slicing, but you may substitute another cut if you like, just be sure to score the most even surface.
- Rub prepared garlic (I like the already-chopped kind you find in a jar) into the scores you've cut in the roast.
- Combine all the other spices, not including bay and bouillon, and cover the roast, pressing into the scores as well.
- Place roast in a pan with at least 2-inch sides. Drizzle with olive oil at this point if desired. This is a nice addition if the roast is exceptionally lean. Add the 2 cups of water and the bay leaves, and cover completely with aluminum foil.
- Roast at 275°F for 45 minutes per pound, or 3 hours for a 4-pound cut of beef.
- Remove from oven, and turn beef several times over in the pan juices. Remove from pan, wrap in the foil, and chill overnight. Reserve all pan juices and spices in a separate container and chill as well.
- The next day, slice the beef very thin and set aside.
- In a large, heavy cooking pot or Dutch oven, put all the reserved juices and the bouillon cubes. Remove bay leaves. Heat just to boiling, then add the sliced beef. At this point, you may want to adjust spices to the gravy, as often the heat from the red pepper flakes cooks out a bit, as well as the saltiness. Add just enough water to cover beef slices, if necessary. Cover and simmer until heated through.
- While heating, clean and core the bell peppers, and slice thickly lengthwise.
- Gently rest on top of the heating beef until softened to your taste. Alternately, you may steam them in the microwave or gently simmer in an olive oil/water bath in a separate pan on the stovetop.
- Slice the bread into your preferred sandwich size. Many times when we're having a party, we cut sandwich rolls in half so people can sample a bit of everything. For family dinners, we leave the bun whole, or cut the bread loaves in a size similar.
- Gently dip (or go ahead and dunk the whole thing, if that's your deal) the bread in the gravy, and then stuff with as much beef as you care to. Top with a slice or two of sweet peppers, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 771.8, Fat 37.7, SaturatedFat 14.9, Cholesterol 308.6, Sodium 1155.9, Carbohydrate 3.8, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 0.5, Protein 98.5
Tips:
- Use good quality beef: Chuck roast is the traditional cut used for Italian beef sandwiches, but you can also use top sirloin or brisket.
- Cook the beef slowly: The key to tender, flavorful Italian beef is to cook it slowly. Braising or slow-cooking the beef allows the connective tissue to break down, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Use a flavorful braising liquid: The braising liquid adds flavor to the beef, so be sure to use a flavorful combination of ingredients. Some common ingredients used in Italian beef braising liquids include beef broth, tomatoes, red wine, garlic, and herbs.
- Shred the beef against the grain: Once the beef is cooked, shred it against the grain. This will make it easier to eat and will help the beef absorb the juices from the braising liquid.
- Use a good quality bread: The bread is an important part of any sandwich, so be sure to use a good quality loaf. Italian bread, French bread, or a hoagie roll are all good choices.
- Don't skimp on the toppings: The toppings are what really make an Italian beef sandwich special. Some popular toppings include giardiniera, sweet peppers, mozzarella cheese, and gravy.
Conclusion:
Italian beef sandwiches are a delicious and hearty sandwich that is perfect for a casual meal. With a few simple tips, you can make an Italian beef sandwich that is sure to impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give Italian beef sandwiches a try. You won't be disappointed.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love