Slow Cooked Italian Beef Sandwiches

“American history on a bun,” is how actor and food enthusiast Adam Richman described the Italian Beef sandwich. In this final installment of our “hot sandwiches” month, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to share this Chicago born special beef sandwich dipped in…yes…its own gravy.

The Italian Beef sandwich is really an American Italian Beef sandwich which appeared in the 1930’s, born out of a need to make a little beef go a long way and utilize the less desirable and tougher cuts of meat available. Those same cuts which we now prize for our slow cookers because they are full of flavor and cook optimally using lower heat for longer.

Traditionally it is slowly roasted over a pan of seasoned broth and after cooking the beef is cooled and sliced thinly. It is then served on a chewy bun topped with tangy, crunchy giardiniera and the juices from the pan with extra for dipping.

In the slow cooker version the beef sits in the broth but is not entirely immersed so that the top retains a crust from the rub. Once cooled it’s easy to slice thinly to recreate an authentic Italian Beef sandwich.

Next week we begin a month of Slow Cooking 101 and share how we got started along with some more recipes for success.

Ingredients

2 ½ lbs beef roast (round or chuck)
½ tbsp ground black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp Italian or Greek oregano
1 tsp basil
½ tsp salt
16 oz reduced sodium beef broth

6 Italian rolls
Jar of your favorite Giardiniera or other pickles

Lay the beef out on the paper it is wrapped in or a plate. Mix the black pepper, onion, garlic, oregano, basil and salt in a small bowl and rub it liberally on both sides of the beef.

Lay the seasoned beef on the bottom of your slow cooker insert and pour the beef broth around it. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours.

Once cooked, remove the beef and leave to cool before slicing across ways and serve on buttered rolls. Top with the giardiniera and a side of broth for dipping.

Zen Moment

“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.”