A SUPERB Use for Leftover Steak
By Alice Osborne
Leftover steak. That's sort of an oxymoron, I know. But in the off-chance you do have some steak leftover after your next grilling adventure, here's a superb idea on how to use this versatile meat.
Consider the Philly Cheesesteak! According to America's Test Kitchen, Philly steak shops use three things to achieve their beloved sandwich's hashed, browned, crispy meat: a meat slicer, a griddle, and prohibitively expensive rib eye.
The Test Kitchen cooks came up with a simple and economical way to mimic the thinly shaved slivers of rib eye usually obtained with a meat slicer. They found that when partially frozen, sirloin steak makes for easy slicing, and its flavor was nearest to rib eye but without the sticker shock.
To best approximate the wide griddle typically used in typical Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurants, the Test Kitchen cooked the meat in two batches, letting any excess moisture drain off before giving it a final sear. Finally, to bind it all together, they let slices of American cheese melt into the meat, along with a bit of grated Parmesan to boost its flavor.
So with the idea that you'd be using leftover steak from your latest barbecue, just know that the cooking/searing part of the process can be skipped. The trick will be thinly slicing the steak you have left. I think I would do this following the Test Kitchen Cooks' advice, and freeze the leftovers. Then, when ready to make the sandwiches, I'd let the steak partially unthaw and slice as thin as possible.
Following is a recipe that has won rave reviews with many of my neighbors. I'll be trying it in the next week - assuming we have any leftover steak from our barbecue, that is!
5 Star Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich
Serves 2 really big appetites!
2 fresh Italian rolls or 2 Kaiser rolls, split in half crosswise
1 white onion, thinly sliced
1/2 large green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 lb sirloin steak, very very thinly sliced
1/3 lb thinly sliced provolone cheese
ketchup, topping (optional)
pepperoncini pepper, accompaniment
olive oil
Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. When hot add the oil, onions and bell peppers, and cook, stirring, until caramelized, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Push off to 1 side of the griddle.
Add the meat to the hot pan and cook, stirring and breaking up with the back of 2 metal spatulas, until almost no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Mix in the sauteed vegetables. Top with cheese slices and melt.
Spoon the cheesy meat mixture into the warm buns and serve immediately with condiments of choice.
