Crafting The Perfect Philly Cheesesteak At Home

A good homemade Philly cheesesteak starts with thinly sliced steak—ribeye is the traditional choice, but sirloin is a more affordable option—cooked with onions and bell peppers, topped with cheese, and served on a soft roll. The roll is typically brushed with garlic butter and toasted before the other ingredients are added. While the traditional cheesesteak contains just steak, onions, and cheese, green bell peppers and mushrooms are often added to bulk up the sandwich. The most popular cheese is mild provolone, but Cheez Whiz is also a classic choice.

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Choosing the right steak

When selecting your steak, look for a well-marbled cut with a good amount of fat content. This will ensure that your steak is tender and juicy. If you're buying packaged steak, look for thinly sliced options to save time on preparation. You can also ask your butcher to slice the beef for you.

To achieve thin slices, it's recommended to place the steak in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing. This will firm up the meat and make it easier to cut. You can also try flash-freezing the steak by leaving it in the freezer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Once you've sliced the steak, you may want to pound the slices with a meat tenderizer to ensure they are paper-thin. This technique will also help if your slices end up thicker than desired.

Remember to slice the steak against the grain. This will make it easier to chew and ensure a better texture in your cheesesteak.

With the right steak and proper preparation techniques, you'll be well on your way to creating a delicious homemade Philly cheesesteak.

Preparing the vegetables

To prepare the vegetables, start by slicing a big yellow onion. Try to make the slices the same size for even cooking. You can also dice the onion to your desired size. Next, slice the bell peppers. Green bell peppers are the most commonly used, but you can also use red or green and red peppers for a mix of colours. If you don't like peppers, feel free to leave them out. Mushrooms are another optional ingredient that can be added. Slice the mushrooms to a similar thickness as the onions.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add butter and cooking oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften. Then, add the sliced onions and bell peppers to the skillet. Stir and cook for another 3 minutes or until the vegetables are softened. If the veggies are browning, turn down the heat a bit.

You can also sauté the vegetables separately. Add vegetable oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-low heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook until they are very tender. If they start to brown, turn down the heat.

Melting the cheese

To melt the cheese, place slices of your chosen variety over the steak and vegetables in the skillet. Cover the skillet with a lid or baking sheet and cook on a medium heat setting until the cheese has melted. This should take around 3 to 5 minutes. You can then use a spatula to transfer the mixture to your rolls.

If you're making multiple sandwiches, you can keep the cheese melty and gooey by placing the meat and vegetable mixture on the rolls and then adding the cheese before melting it under the broiler. This way, you can ensure that each sandwich has fresh, melted cheese.

For an extra cheesy Philly cheesesteak, you can fold grated Parmesan into the mixture. This adds flavour and helps to bind the meat together, keeping it from falling apart as you eat.

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Toasting the bun

First, slice open the bun about three-quarters of the way through. You can use a serrated knife to do this. Then, stir together softened butter and pressed garlic. Spread this garlic butter onto the cut sides of the bun.

To toast the bun, heat a large skillet, flat cooktop, or griddle to medium heat. Place the bun cut-side down and toast until golden brown. Set the bun aside while you prepare the rest of the sandwich.

If you prefer a softer bun, you can skip the toasting step. However, toasting the bun will add a crispy texture and a garlicky flavor that complements the other ingredients in the Philly cheesesteak. It also helps to contain the cheesy steak and veggies, preventing them from falling out.

Assembling the sandwich

To assemble a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, start by slicing the hoagie rolls about three-quarters of the way down. Combine softened butter and garlic and spread the mixture onto the cut sides of the rolls. Toast the rolls on a skillet, cut-side down, until golden brown.

Next, add the steak, onions, and peppers to the skillet. If you're using cheese slices, add them now, placing them in a circle over the mixture. If you're using shredded cheese, you can mix it into the steak and vegetables. Cover the skillet and cook until the cheese is melted.

Finally, use a spatula to transfer the mixture onto the toasted rolls. Serve with fries, potato wedges, onion rings, or chips.

For a more distinct melted cheese element, you can place the meat and vegetable mixture on the toasted buns and then add the cheese. Broil for a few minutes until the cheese melts.

Frequently asked questions