Bushra Griffith
The Philly cheesesteak is a sandwich that originated in Philadelphia. It is typically made with thinly sliced steak, sautéed onions, and cheese, served on a hoagie roll. The choice of bread is crucial to its overall quality. While the type of roll used can vary, the most traditional option is a slightly crusty, soft, and chewy Italian roll from Amoroso's Bakery in Philadelphia. This roll is said to be the perfect complement to the sandwich's other ingredients, providing a satisfying chew while being sturdy enough to hold the robust filling without becoming soggy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread Type | Hoagie roll, Amoroso roll, sub roll |
| Texture | Soft but sturdy, slightly crusty exterior, soft interior, chewy |
| Shape | Footlong |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Amoroso roll is a popular choice for Philly cheesesteaks
The Amoroso roll's texture is a key factor in its popularity for Philly cheesesteaks. Its light crispiness and airy, slightly chewy interior create a perfect balance for the robust filling of the sandwich. The roll is sturdy enough to hold the steak, onions, and cheese without becoming soggy, while remaining light and not overwhelming the other ingredients.
In addition to its texture, the Amoroso roll's size and shape make it ideal for Philly cheesesteaks. The roll is typically a footlong, providing ample space for the generous portions of meat and cheese. Its elongated shape allows for even distribution of the fillings, ensuring each bite delivers a harmonious combination of flavours and textures.
The popularity of the Amoroso roll for Philly cheesesteaks extends beyond Philadelphia. It has gained recognition in other cities, with cheesesteak makers in Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas sourcing their rolls from Amoroso's Bakery. This expansion demonstrates the roll's integral role in the authentic Philly cheesesteak experience, even outside of its place of origin.
While the Amoroso roll is a popular choice, it is worth noting that other types of rolls can also be used for Philly cheesesteaks. Hoagie rolls and sub rolls are commonly mentioned as alternatives, offering a similar texture and shape that complement the sandwich's fillings. Ultimately, the choice of roll is a matter of preference, but the Amoroso roll remains a classic and iconic option for this beloved sandwich.
Cheese Risotto: The Perfect Pairing Guide
You may want to see also
Hoagie rolls are also commonly used
The hoagie roll is an important part of the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, providing a satisfying chew and complementing the other signature ingredients. The roll should be packed with the cheesesteak filling, and some recipes recommend drizzling the sandwich with warm Cheez Whiz for maximum cheesiness.
When preparing the sandwich, the meat and cheese portions are typically flipped into the hoagie roll, with the cheese acting as a protective barrier at the bottom of the sandwich. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy from the drippy beef filling.
Some recipes also call for the hoagie rolls to be toasted before adding the filling, ensuring a lightly crispy exterior. This can be achieved by baking the rolls until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.
Overall, the hoagie roll is a popular choice for Philly cheesesteaks, providing a balance of texture and flavour that complements the sandwich's other ingredients.
The Art of Serving Le Fromager Cheese
You may want to see also
The roll should be soft but sturdy
The roll is an essential part of a Philly cheesesteak. It should complement the sandwich's other ingredients, which include tender, well-marbled steak, sautéed onions, and melted cheese. The roll should be soft but sturdy, with a slightly crusty exterior and a softer, airy, and slightly chewy interior. This texture is achieved by using as little flour as possible during the kneading process, allowing the gluten to develop properly.
A soft roll ensures a satisfying bite and prevents the sandwich from feeling overly bready. A sturdy roll, on the other hand, is necessary to hold the robust filling without becoming soggy from the drippy beef and melted cheese. The roll should be packed with the cheesesteak mixture to ensure a cohesive sandwich.
Amoroso's Italian rolls are a popular choice for Philly cheesesteaks. This variety of roll is known for its slightly crusty exterior and softer interior, providing a perfect balance of textures. The bakery that produces these rolls, Amoroso's, was founded by Italian immigrants in 1904 and has been in Philadelphia since 1914. Their rolls are considered the gold standard for Philly cheesesteaks, with many restaurants sourcing their bread from this bakery.
While Amoroso's rolls are widely favoured, other bakeries also produce suitable rolls for Philly cheesesteaks. The key characteristics to look for in a roll are a soft interior and a sturdy exterior that can withstand the sandwich's hearty filling without becoming soggy. A hoagie roll is another variety of bread commonly used for Philly cheesesteaks, offering a similar texture and taste experience to Amoroso's rolls.
In summary, the ideal roll for a Philly cheesesteak should be soft yet sturdy, with a slightly crusty exterior and a chewy interior. Amoroso's Italian rolls are a popular choice, but other bakeries also produce suitable options. The roll is an essential component of the sandwich, providing the perfect vessel for the tender steak, sautéed onions, and melted cheese.
The Perfect Pairing: Cheese Balls and Crackers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
A slightly crusty exterior with a soft interior is ideal
The Amoroso roll, a type of hoagie roll, is commonly used for Philly cheesesteaks and is known for its slightly crusty exterior and soft, airy, and slightly chewy interior. The bakery that makes these rolls, Amoroso's Bakery, was founded by Italian immigrants in 1904 and has been in Philadelphia since 1914. The rolls are sturdy enough to hold up to the robust Philly cheesesteak filling, while still being light and airy.
To achieve a slightly crusty exterior and soft interior, there are a few key considerations when making the roll dough. Firstly, it is important to use as little flour as possible in the kneading process to ensure that the dough remains sticky. This will result in a softer interior texture with well-developed gluten. Secondly, the dough should be kneaded by hand for at least five minutes, stretching and folding it across the kneading surface. This helps to develop good gluten in the dough, which contributes to the desired texture.
When assembling the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, the construction method is also important. The meat and cheese portions are placed on the roll first, followed by toppings such as caramelized onions, mushrooms, or peppers. The meat and cheese act as a barrier to prevent the bread from becoming soggy from the toppings.
The Art of Serving Pricey Brie Cheese
You may want to see also
The roll should be lightly crispy and airy
When it comes to Philly cheesesteaks, the roll is of utmost importance. As Frank Olivieri, great-nephew of Pat Olivieri and current owner of Pat's King of Steaks, says, "It's all hinged upon the bread". If the bread is stale, too spongey, or overly crispy, it won't be able to hold all the ingredients and the sandwich will fall flat—literally.
The ideal roll for a Philly cheesesteak should be lightly crispy and airy. This provides a satisfying contrast between the crusty exterior and the softer interior, ensuring a pleasant eating experience. The roll should also be sturdy yet light, so it can contain the hearty filling without overwhelming the eater with too much bread.
Amoroso's Bakery in Philadelphia is renowned for providing the rolls for the best Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. Their Italian rolls, crafted by the family-owned bakery, strike the perfect balance between a slightly crusty exterior and a softer, airy, and slightly chewy interior. This texture is achieved through a careful kneading process that minimizes the use of flour, resulting in a sticky dough that yields a soft and airy roll with well-developed gluten.
To recreate the Amoroso's roll experience at home, one can follow a recipe that focuses on achieving the desired texture. This involves using minimal flour during the kneading process, resulting in a sticky dough that produces a soft and airy roll with a chewy texture. Baking the rolls until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped will create that lightly crispy exterior and airy interior that is so coveted in a Philly cheesesteak roll.
Brie Cheese: Serving Ideas for Your Next Party
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Most sources agree that the best roll for a Philly cheesesteak is a Amoroso roll. Amoroso's Bakery is based in Philadelphia and has been making rolls since 1904. The rolls are known for their slightly crusty exterior and soft interior.
Amoroso rolls are Italian rolls. They are sturdy enough to hold the robust Philly cheesesteak filling without becoming soggy, while still being light and airy.
If you can't get hold of Amoroso rolls, a soft but sturdy hoagie roll or sub roll is the next best option.
Philly cheesesteaks traditionally use Italian rolls. However, not just any Italian roll will do—it must be sturdy enough to hold the filling without becoming soggy.
A veggie Philly cheesesteak can be made with any type of roll. Hoagie rolls are commonly used, but you could also use a sub roll or an Amoroso roll.
