Ingredients
Pot Roast:
- 1 boneless beef chuck eye roast (about 3 1/2 pounds)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 3 cups beef stock
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Sweet Peppers:
- 4 green bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sandwich Build:
- 4 soft, hinged sub or hoagie rolls
- Homemade Hot Giardiniera, recipe follows
Directions
For the pot roast: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and position a rack in the middle position.
Liberally sprinkle the entire roast with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the roast on all sides until golden and caramelized; reduce the heat if the fat begins to smoke. Transfer the roast to a plate and reduce the heat to medium. Add in onions and saute, stirring occasionally until just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper and saute until fragrant. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Deglaze with the red wine and cook until the alcohol smell is diminished. Add in the stock and thyme and bring to a simmer. Adjust the seasoning of the jus. Place the roast back into the pot with any accumulated juices and place in the oven. Cook the roast, turning every 30 minutes, until very tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Increase the oven heat to 350 degrees F.
Transfer the roast to a cutting board and tent with foil. Strain the jus through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and return back to the pot. Bring to a simmer and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Once cooled a bit, pull the meat into smaller chunks and reserve for the sandwiches.
For the sweet peppers: Toss the pepper strips with the oil, granulated garlic and salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until lighter in color and soft, about 20 minutes.
For the sandwich build: Simmer the jus until very flavorful and hot. Place some beef on a roll, then some sweet peppers and then some Homemade Hot Giardiniera. Take the whole sandwich and quickly dunk in hot jus. Using 2 hands, go the hell to town.
Homemade Hot Giardiniera:
- 1/4 cup table salt
- 1 cup small-diced carrots
- 1 cup tiny cauliflower florets
- 4 to 8 serrano peppers, sliced (depending on heat level desired)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 stalk celery, diced small
- 1 red bell pepper, diced small
- 2 cups canola oil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Combine 2 cups water and the salt in a glass or non-reactive bowl. Mix until the salt is dissolved. Add the carrots, cauliflower, serranos, garlic, celery and bell pepper to the salt water and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Day 2, drain and rinse the vegetables. In a clean bowl, mix together the oil with the oregano and pepper. Add the vegetables and mix to combine. Allow to marinate overnight. Giardiniera will only get better with time. After 2 days at the most in the bowl, you can place in air-tight mason jars and keep in the fridge for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Yield: 3 to 4 cups.
Photo: Chicago Italian Beef (Pot Roast Style) Recipe



















Review This Recipe
You must be logged in to review this recipe.
or Sign Up to Review
Newest Ratings and Reviews
Read all 311 reviews
By pylon
Racine, Wi
on April 13, 2013
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
An excellant menu for a party.
By Paphotogirl
Strasburg, PA
on April 04, 2013
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
Simply AB FAB! The best au jus sandwiches I've had in my life. Will make this again and again. It's not only a keeper, it's a show-off for casual company.
Only thing I would do differently next time is I would rinse the veggies for the giardinera more thoroughly-- perhaps let them soak for an hour. I think I'd also add a little vinegar, but not a whole lot-- and I normally have a very sour palate.
Kudos, Jeff!
By Tlcrogers
Villa Rica, GA
on April 04, 2013
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
My wife and I are Chicago natives and I just made this for us and my parents and we loved it. The juice (au jus was spot on. The meat was good. It has a different texture and a slightly different taste because of it being a pot roast style and not deli sliced but we do not have to import the beef in like we used to with ever trip up north anymore. The roasted peppers were perfect and worked well. Had our own Chicago bought Giardonara so we did not make it. Excellent show concept as well. Rooted for you all season but honest thought we would have been making mexican tonight (figured Susie would have won. Keep it up Jeff and looking forward to next week. Also liked that you were able to offer substitutes for the cheese; since the one that you quoted on the Focacianini is not available down south.
Read all 311 reviews