Italian Beef
19A post about Italian beef sandwiches was one of my first posts ever on this blog – back when its only reader was, well, probably me. Since the post lacked an actual recipe (in terms of measuring ingredients) and picture, I thought I’d take some time to repost a meal that’s incredibly easy to make, and also delicious. It is especially delicious, in my opinion, when topped with hot peppers/giardiniera from Potbelly. I don’t want to point any fingers or start any lawsuits, but I’m fairly certain that Potbelly’s hot peppers are laced with crack. They have to be; otherwise, I would have some semblance of control when eating them.
Italian beef is a very common sandwich in Chicago, said to have originated here. It’s thinly sliced roast beef, usually served with giardiniera (or sweet peppers, if you want) on a roll. You can just have them put just the beef on there, you can have them spoon some of the meat juices on there, or you can even request it dipped, which means dunking the whole thing in the meat juices. That is definitely the sloppiest way to eat it, but also the most tasty in my opinion. I didn’t want to take a picture of a very soggy sandwich but rest assured that I served myself a little cup of juice on the side of this and slowly drenched my sandwich in it as I was eating it.
I was working from home the day I made this, so I didn’t start the beef until about 1:00 p.m. I wanted to slice it (even though I could never get those paper-thin slices) rather than shred it. That said, I usually just let this cook all day and shred when I get home to make it an easy weeknight meal.
Slowcooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
2.5 lb. boneless beef roast (preferably one that is lean and without a ton of fat, as you don’t want your broth and beef to be greasy)
a little olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
2.5 tsp. dried oregano
1. 5 tsp. dried basil
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. thyme
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
kosher salt and fresh pepper
rolls and giardiniera for serving
Season the roast liberally with kosher salt and pepper. Add a little olive oil to a large, heavy bottomed skillet and heat it over medium to medium-high heat. Add the roast and brown on all sides. Remove and place in the slowcooker.
To the pan, add the garlic and stir just until fragrant – about 30 seconds. Add the broth, herbs, Worcestershire, a little salt if necessary (depending how salty your broth is) and some freshly ground pepper (about 1/2 tsp). Scrape all the browned bits off the bottom of the pan, and then pour the mixture over the roast in the slowcooker. Cook on low for about 4 hours (longer if you prefer the beef to fall apart vs. being sliced). Slice and then place back in the juices for another half hour or so.
Serve on Italian rolls, topped with hot (or sweet) peppers.
mmmm delicious! looks so good!
YES! Potbelly hot peppers ARE laced with crack. I don’t know what it is about them but I love those things. The perfect topping for a great looking sandwich! YUM!
This looks amazing! And I apparently have to try those peppers =)
Very funny lead-in, Elly. I guess it is a Chicago thing because I’m an East-Coast Italian (1/2) and while this sandwich is not unfamiliar in its individual ingredients, it is not anything I associate with Italian food. Looks delicious, however.
This the ideal thing to make for my family because the heat is only added at the last minute. I can therefore make theirs without!!!
Italian beef sandwiches would be my new favourite around here Elly. Those peppers need to be distrubuted world wide.
If I ever get to Chicago, we’re heading out for one of those! How delicious! I love the peppers and some jus for dipping sounds even better! Yum!
Your sandwich looks awesome, although I’m probably too much of a weenie for those peppers 🙂
I’ve just begun a sick obsession with gardinia – now I’m sad I don’t have a potbelly nearby!
Italian beef has to be one of my favorite street foods. They always have it at festivals and things here for Catholic holidays. Looks delicious!
Yum… would still sneak in some caramelized onions and provolone…nisitisimo, non? lol
Elly, what a nice way to spice up the beef sandwich…looks fabulous 🙂
I just wanna say how much I love this recipe. (My family also loves it) we have made it 6 or 7 times a year. Potbelly peppers are the best.
Awesome, Serena. Glad you like it!