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If you have ever been to Philadelphia, you may have had a taste of the famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Luckily, it is very easy to make this delicacy at home! It’s the ultimate comfort food and just the perfect combination of melted cheese and thin slices of beef.
Table of contents
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich
The first time I had an authentic Philly cheesesteak was years ago. It was at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. Of course, I already knew that a Philly cheesesteak was a must when we were in Philadelphia. So we ordered one at the place with the longest line. Thinking that must be the place to be for the best philly cheesesteak.
Making a choice is still quite a thing, because besides different toppings you can also choose different kinds of cheese. Most where – obviously – American cheeses, and the names on the board didn’t mean anything to us. So what kind of cheese we had to pick was a pretty hard question. So in the end we opted for a pretty standard version of the Philly cheesesteak. Maybe we didn’t make the best choices but the good news is that you can recreate this delicious philly cheesesteak recipe quite easily at home.
What is a philly cheesesteak
Obviously as the name suggests, a philly cheesesteak (or a steak sandwich) is essentially a sandwich made in Philadelphia. It contains thin slices of beef with white American cheese and usually served in a hoagie roll. The cheese can vary, as can the cut of beef used. Also the toppings can vary. I used caramelized onions here, but you can find bell peppers, provolone cheese and lots of other variations. I love serving mine with french fries but when we were in Philly it was simply served in a piece of paper.
What goes into a steak sandwich?
The ingredients used are pretty simple and straightforward.
- rib eye – you can also use flank steak or other cuts of beef. Ask your local butcher for tips here.
- cheese – I love a sharp cheddar but here I used those prepacked sliced of cheddar as they melt so nicely. Melty provolone cheese was also one of the options in Philadelphia. But whatever slices of cheese you choose you want it to be melty cheese.
- onions – I love adding caramelized onions but that is also options
- hoagie roll – now hoagie rolls are not something you can find here in the Netherlands as far as I know, so I usually just go to the grocery store and pick a favorite sandwich roll. I like my bread to be somewhat firm as that will hold all the contents better. But you can choose whichever you prefer.
- seasoning for your steak
What cheese do you use on a Philly cheesesteak?
Actually, there is no bad answer here. You use whatever cheese makes you happy. For me the best cheese, is old cheese. I am a fan of a nice tangy old cheddar. Preferably one that still melts nicely, but you can use a young aged one or any other cheese you like. You can even use those terrible cheddar slices that aren’t really cheddar. And the ones we used here in the picture because it melts so nicely. But just use the cheese that makes you happy! Make sure your cheese of choice is melty!
I’ve also seen recipes that go for a cheese sauce (like cheez whiz) rather than melted cheese but I guess it depends on your preference. It’s a pretty simple combination so any choice is the right choice.
Ribeye
In terms of the meat used, I like to go with a nice ribeye. Now while you would normally cook a steak to maybe medium rare, but an authentic cheesesteak uses meat that is well done. You want the outside golden brown and the sides crispy. But still don’t overcook them. The slices are thin so don’t need very long. And there is also something to be said about the meat being somewhat crispy. I love crispy edges! Make sure you slice the meat with a sharp knife or ask your butcher to do this for you. Season the steak with salt and black pepper and prepare on high heat. In the seasoning for the beef mixture you can use some garlic powder and onion powder if you want. Or use garlic cloves. Also a good option.
How to make a philly cheese steak
So when you’re ready to go and make philly cheesesteak sandwiches you will have to start first with caramelized your onions. The sautéed onions take most of the time so you want that done before you start the rest of your sandwich. I use olive oil combined with butter to make the caramelized onions, but choose whatever you want. In the recipe card for the onions you can find all the details.
Questions asked about making a philly cheesesteak sandwich
Well this may vary from vendor to vendor but in general a good cheesesteak has thinly sliced beef, usually ribeye and melted cheese. Usually American cheese or provolone. But a lot of stalls have loads more options to choose from.
For the ultimate philly cheesesteak you want the beef to be really thin. A deli slicer is a good option but if you don’t have one ask your butcher. Another good option is to briefly freeze the meat so it is easier to slice.
It’s invented in Philadelphia in the 1930s by a hot dogs vendor, or actually two hot dog vendors named Pat and Harry Olivieri. As with all origins it is unclear if that is really the case but most sources say they invented this cheese sandwich. It was originally an alternative to the hotdog but soon became quite popular
The better question would be, what can you not put on a cheesesteak? Of course if you want to stick to the original than go for beef, cheese and onions, but you might come across philly cheesesteaks with red peppers, sweet peppers or sometimes even cream cheese.
Philly cheesesteak
Ingredients
- 250 gr ribeye
- 1 large white onion
- 2 hoagie rolls
- 4 slices cheddar cheese or more is always possible!
- 50 grams butter
- Serve with fries and ketchup/mayo
Titel
- Put the ribeye in the freezer for an hour before you start, this will make it easier to cut into thin slices later.
- Slice the onion into thin rings.
- Melt half the butter in a skillet and sauté the onions over low heat until golden brown. This takes a long time, at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cut the ribeye into thin slices. Slice the pistolets open and fry them in the pan until golden brown. Heat the pan, melt the remaining butter, and brown the ribeye in a few minutes.
- Make two mounds of the ribeye in the pan, add the onion rings and then the cheese slices.
- When the cheese is melted, scrape it up with a large spatula and place it in the bun.
- Add salt and pepper and eat. Delicious with french fries for the ultimate comfort food experience!
Notes
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
