A Real Philly Cheesesteak Food

A REAL PHILLY CHEESESTEAK

Steps:

• MEAT: Make friends with your butcher. You need him to partially freeze a hunk of Rib Eye, and then slice it very thin. You want it sliced thin even though common sense tells us that thick is better. You can buy the hunk of rib eye and freeze and slice it yourself, but the butcher generally does a better job than I do. I can only get it about 1/8" thick and he does about.
• BREAD: This is the hard part. If you aren't in the tristate area, and can't get AMOROSOS rolls (the only thing that is REALLY good on a cheesesteak) then you have to find a substitute. Squishy sub rolls will NOT do. They do not hold together under pressure. Refrain from buying those "hero" rolls too. A good hoagie roll is almost rubbery in texture, but quite soft. The best substitute I have found is a loaf of French bread. Not as good as the real thing, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.
• Toppings: All of this is personal choice. I like fried onions and mushrooms myself.
• Cheeses used vary - I hate to admit it but I think cheese whiz tastes the best. Provolone is awesome too and thats what I would use if I was afraid of the plastic orange stuff called whiz.
• Cooking the steak: In a cast iron frying pan, or a grill pan heat some oil. Saute toppings until pliable - make them however you like them. Remove them from pan and set aside.
• Pour some more oil in the pan (I use olive oil, but if you have access to the stuff they use in restaurants on grills it would taste even better) on medium high heat. Place 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound of meat in the pan, lying the pieces flat and overlapping to form a shape that will fit nicely in a bun.
• When the meat turns grey with doneness, flip it over and if you are using cheese slices now is the time to lie them on top of the meat. Add the other toppings back into the pan next to the meat and allow to reheat. Cover the pan to allow the cheese to melt. This should take 1-2 minutes. If the meat looks overcooked, thats ok - i t should be GRAY.
• This is the time to toast the bread if you so wish. I don't like mine toasted at all. Warmed is ok.
• If you are using cheese whiz, warm it in the microwave. Pick up meat and melted cheese with a spatula and deposit on the roll. IF using cheese whiz, use a butter knife or chopstick to smear whiz next to the meat.
• Push the meat on one side of the roll and deposit the toppings next to it. This is important because if you put the toppings ON the meat, they will not be in the bottom of the sandwich, which really sux.
• You should get meat, toppings and cheese in every bite.

AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESESTEAK

Steps:

• Slice steak as thin as possible. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add in sliced onion and saute until soft, 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside. If not using onion, proceed immediately to the next step.
• Add slices of steak into the pan in one layer to sear, 1-2 minutes, then flip and sear the other side.
• Use a spatula to chop up steak. Add in cooked onions (if using) and any other desired additions.
• Reduce heat to low and top chopped steak with choice of cheese. Let melt then transfer to hoagie roll. Serve immediately.

PHILLY CHEESE STEAK

Steps:

• Place steak in freezer for 30 to 45 minutes; this makes it easier to slice the meat. Remove the meat from the freezer and slice very thinly.
• Heat griddle or grill pan over high heat. Brush steak slices with oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 45 to 60 seconds per side.
• Place several slices of the meat on the bottom half of the roll, spoon some of the cheese sauce over the meat, and top with the mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the warm milk, and cook, whisking constantly until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and whisk in the provolone and Parmesan until combined; season with the salt and pepper.
• Heat oil and butter in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms are golden brown. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and cook slowly until golden brown and caramelized, stirring occasionally, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
• Heat the oil in medium saute pan over high heat. Add the peppers and cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper.

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH (((AUTHENTIC)))

Steps:

• Heat a griddle or a large saute pan over medium-high heat.
• When hot, cover bottom with olive oil.
• Add the onions and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until carmelized, which will take about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic, salt and pepper, and cook for about 30 seconds.
• Then, push the mixture off to one side of the griddle.
• Add the meat to the hot part of the griddle.
• Cook, continuously flipping the meat over and slightly chopping the meat into slightly smaller pieces with 2 spatulas, until the meat is not pink, which should take about 2 minutes.
• Mix the meat and the carmelized onions and bell pepper together.
• Divide into 2 portions, and top both portions with the cheese to melt.
• If using Italian or French bread, cut the bread in half, crosswise, and slice lengthwise to open for the 2 sandwiches.
• Hollow out some of the soft white bread part from inside and place face down on top of the meat and cheese.
• When the cheese is melted, and with 1 or 2 spatulas, flip the sandwiches over and add topping, such as marinara sauce or ketchup, if desired, and serve immediately.