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Mains

Philly Cheesesteak

Makes 2 Sandwiches
My Philadelphia-born friend is so devoted to her city's most famous sandwich that the first thing she did after her big fancy wedding was to head, gown and all, to her favorite local spot for a cheesesteak to end the night. On a recent visit, I comparison-shopped the cheesesteak sandwich shop. Here's my standard order: onions, whiz (i.e., Cheez Whiz), provolone, and giardiniera -- the pickled vegetables perk up the whole meaty, cheesy business. Regardless of where you buy it, everything starts with the vigorous chopping and flipping spatulas cutting through the frying beef a-sizzle on the flattop. Beyond that, the rest is personalized. Add the whiz? provolone? onions? peppers? giardiniera? You better know what you want before you step up to the counter.

INGREDIENTS

  • One 1-pound boneless beef top round steak
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon safflower oil
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Two 8-inch-long hero rolls
  • 4 slices provolone cheese
  • 1 cup Creamy Cheese Sauce
  • Giardiniera for garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. To make slicing it easier, freeze the beef for 30 minutes to firm up.
  2. Preheat a double-burner griddle or two large skillets over medium-high heat. Thinly slice the meat against the grain.
  3. Toss the onions in a bowl with the oil and put them on the griddle. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions become translucent. Push the onions to the back of the griddle.
  4. Place the beef on the griddle and season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until no pink remains. Stir the onions into the beef and chop the beef mixture into bite-size pieces with the side of a metal spatula.
  5. Divide the beef and onions between the hoagie rolls. Top with the provolone and cheese sauce. Serve immediately, topped with giardiniera, if desired.
cook's note
Slicing Meat Thin: Whether you’re slicing top round for cheesesteaks, thinly slicing flank steak for Beef Satay (page 140), or some fillet for a stirfry, it can be tricky to cut the meat thin enough. But if you partially freeze it, for about 30 minutes (just long enough to firm it, without freezing it through), the job becomes easy and the results accurate.
pantry
Need help with the ingredients? Check our pantry list:
Photo by Jonathan Lovekin