Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

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GaryCinChicago
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Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » July 1st, 2012, 3:33 pm

texasweed wrote: Gary I have been to Chicago many times. Love the city and the food, especially on the Italian side of town. One of my favorites is Italian Drip Beef. It is a whole cut of Round slow cooked for many hours, and slice paper thin. Good Stuff man.
OK, here ya go .... SUPER SIMPLE, only 15 minutes to put together.

Most important thing is the shopping for the proper ingredients. The whole taste is based on a few simple ingredients noted *

*1 jar Mild Giardiera http://www.marconi-foods.com/Mild_Giard ... tails.aspx
(This company's mild is tasty and plenty HOT)

*1 jar Greek Pepperoncini Peppers
http://www.marconi-foods.com/Peperoncini-details.aspx

*1 package (dry) "Zesty Italian" Salad Dressing mix
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Seasons-Dres ... B000E1FZBY

****** the above is what really makes this recipe. The brands are not important - but the actual ingridients are. It's the pepperoncini, giardiera and salad mix, that's what is important for the flavor.

And 'da bread. If you serve this on hamburger buns you should be shot! You have to buy the 3' long French/Italian bread *******


2 green Bell peppers

2 regular size cans of 'Beef Broth' You pick your brand

1 large onion

3-4 cloves of garlic

One 3-4 Lb Beef Roast, a cheap cut like chuck or round - whatever is on sale that day.

This takes 18 hours to cook, so I throw it together in 15 minutes at bed time and it's ready for the next days dinner.

Slice onion and place in Crock Pot.
Smash and dice garlic
Sprinkle the Zesty Italian salad dressing on bottom with garlic.

You like oregano? Throw a teaspoon in too in addition to that salad dressing mix.

Now, take the Giardiera, and using a slotted spoon, scoop out *HALF* of the giardiera, while letting most of the oil drip back into the jar with the slotted spoon.
Place that on bottom.

Place Beef roast on top of all this.

Open both cans of Beef Broth and pour into Crock Pot.

Take out *HALF* the pepperoncini and set aside.
Take a sharp knife and remove the stems on each pepperoncini, and drain the vinegar out of the pepperoncini by squeezing them.

Place the pepperoncini on top of the beef roast, cover, and say goodnight to it.

Set the Crock Pot on low and go to bed.

The next morning .... very gently, give the roast a spin and flip. Grab some of the juices with a spoon and drizzle the juice over the beef. Baste the beef. Grab some juice with the spoon and taste for salt. Adjust salt if needed to your taste (in addition to the salt in the broth). Also, check the flavor. Does it need a little oregano, or more garlic? Adjust to taste if needed. Cover and leave it alone, still simmering on "low" and move on with your day.

Fresh bread is important, so you pick that up fresh for dinner on your way home.

Now that evening when you come home, your whole house will smell so good!!!!!
Hold your horses.

Take the 2 green Bell peppers and slice them up, making 1" by 3 to 3.5" strips.
Open Crock pot and place peppers on top of beef and cover again.

Set Crock pot to warm or serve now - for another hour or so (you just came home, so there's time)

When you're ready to eat, the beef will be falling apart just looking at it!

While it is still in the crock pot, just take a fork to the beef and shred it apart a little bit. Don't beat it up, be gentle.

Now slice the bread and get your favorite side and drink.

You like your sandwich dipped? Open the bread up and stick it face side down a little to soak up a little juice.

Grab some for those green Bell Peppers. Place them on the bread first - they go on the bottom for support. Grab the beef all juicy and wet and place on bread.

Top with .... hey, why did you only use half a jar of Giardenaria and Pepperocini ???

You guessed it - top with the left over Giardenaria and Pepperocini and (optional - not a Chicago thing) shredded Mozzarella!

Mangia!!!!!!!!!!

Leftovers can be frozen.
Just thaw in frig for a couple of days and then re-heat.
Some say its even better as left overs as all the flavors mingle together better with time.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » July 1st, 2012, 3:42 pm

*SIDEBAR*

Texture and appearance WILL BE different than any Italian beef sandwich sold locally.

The difference is they slice/shave their beef while still frozen and tight, then simmer it for a couple / few hours. Production is their business.

If you eat with your eyes, like my children do, then you will find this different. It is not like they serve on the street at a beef stand. God gave me a tongue to use for taste and I use that instead of my eyes. My recipe will have a different texture, no doubt. But it's the taste that matters to me.

At the end of the day, cooking to me is all about "how did it taste".

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by xapabwa » July 1st, 2012, 5:12 pm

GaryCinChicago wrote:At the end of the day, cooking to me is all about "how did it taste".
I'm right there with you, Gary. Presentation is nice, but how it tastes is what really matters! I wonder if you could substitute red peppers for the green bell peppers. Any thoughts on that? My husband doesn't care for green peppers that much. Sounds very yummy to me.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » July 1st, 2012, 7:00 pm

xapabwa wrote:
GaryCinChicago wrote:At the end of the day, cooking to me is all about "how did it taste".
I'm right there with you, Gary. Presentation is nice, but how it tastes is what really matters! I wonder if you could substitute red peppers for the green bell peppers. Any thoughts on that? My husband doesn't care for green peppers that much. Sounds very yummy to me.
Sure, why not?
The bell peppers are only in there towards the end, on the lowest setting, for an hour or two at most.
Really not adding or changing any flavor to what is underneath them either.

Green, Red, Banana, Poblano .... all you're doing is softening them to be added to the sandwich.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by Bavaria » July 1st, 2012, 8:31 pm

I think this is right up my alley- Crock Pot. Hot peppers, I'll opt for the hotter jar.


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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » July 1st, 2012, 8:36 pm

Bavaria wrote:I think this is right up my alley- Crock Pot. Hot peppers, I'll opt for the hotter jar.
I have both the mild and hot Giardiera on hand, since both will go on sale together.

I'll cook with the mild and then my family can top their sandwich with
a.) nothing
b.) more mild Giardiera
c.) hot Giardiera, like I do

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by Bavaria » July 1st, 2012, 9:11 pm

Yes that's the way add later, Thats the kind of cooking my Mom does, less the heat. Gary you got anymore, post it. Good stuff.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » July 1st, 2012, 10:05 pm

Bavaria wrote: Gary you got anymore, post it. Good stuff.
Sure, will do. But I'm all about keeping the mess to a minimum.
That means 1 pot cooking :rotfl:

See the deal is, Mrs. C says sure, go ahead and cook on the weekends and give me a break, I enjoy your cooking. But if you make it dirty - YOU CLEAN IT!

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by xapabwa » July 2nd, 2012, 11:15 am

One pot recipes are great. Very helpful for those who work all day, but still want something home cooked when they get home. We never did fast food growing up. My mother cooked everything from scratch. She worked full time and didn't get home Monday-Friday until 5:45 pm, but still always made dinner. Some nights, it was close to 7:30 pm before we were sitting down, but it was homemade when we did.

My husband and I have a deal worked out. When I cook, he cleans up and does the dishes. When he cooks, I clean up and do the dishes - only seems fair.

My husband loves banana peppers and I have some growing in the veggie garden, though admittedly, they're not doing so well with the oppressive heat and dry conditions. Perhaps I'll try those and the kids can just not include them on their sandwiches.

texasweed

Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by texasweed » July 2nd, 2012, 2:37 pm

Way to complicated. :amen:

2 to 4 pound Brisket, Chuck, or Round (Butt Roast)
1 Envelope of Italian Dressing Mix
1-16oz Jar Mezzetta Sliced Pepperoncini Greek Peppers with liquid

Place in Crock Pot and cook on Low for 6 hours or until fork tender. :rotfl:

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by McLovin » August 4th, 2012, 4:15 pm

texasweed wrote:Way to complicated. :amen:

2 to 4 pound Brisket, Chuck, or Round (Butt Roast)
1 Envelope of Italian Dressing Mix
1-16oz Jar Mezzetta Sliced Pepperoncini Greek Peppers with liquid

Place in Crock Pot and cook on Low for 6 hours or until fork tender. :rotfl:
Image

www.hark.com/clips/lbtmwcrzkz-youre-not-from-chicago
Last edited by McLovin on September 16th, 2016, 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

texasweed

Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by texasweed » August 4th, 2012, 7:20 pm

McLovin wrote:Image
I remember that movie, Untouchables, pretty good flick and All-Star cast.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by McLovin » August 5th, 2012, 3:52 pm

yep Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Robert De Niro. Plus the supporting actors were excellent IMHO.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by McLovin » September 14th, 2012, 8:14 pm

Crock pot loaded awaiting Saturday football tailgate in T minus 20 hours

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » September 14th, 2012, 11:30 pm

McLovin wrote:Crock pot loaded awaiting Saturday football tailgate in T minus 20 hours

:thumbsup:


http://youtu.be/7GbxKBWtW-g

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by McLovin » September 15th, 2012, 9:33 am

Dang this place smells mmmmmmmmmmm GOOD! (Thanks for the recipe and inspiration GC-i-C and TW)!!

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by Drinyth » September 15th, 2012, 9:50 pm

Got a batch going right now. It should be finished just in time for noon kickoff tomorrow. :good:

Thanks for posting the recipe, Gary!

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » September 15th, 2012, 10:04 pm

Hope you guys enjoy it!

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by McLovin » October 7th, 2012, 6:00 pm

Hey Gary - sorry for the late response- the sandwiches were great! The beef was very tender and spicey! We loved them, thanks again for the recipe.

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Re: Chicago style Italian Beef Sandwiches in a Crock Pot

Post by GaryCinChicago » October 9th, 2012, 9:49 am

:good:

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