Whether you’re from the Dover, Middletown, and Odessa area, you’ve no doubt had a cheesesteak or two in your life. Being close to Philly can be convenient when you’re hankering for a tasty steak sandwich. Whether you’re heading to Pat’s, Gino’s, or Jim’s, you can surely say that the first bite into the sandwich makes the 90 minute trip worth it. However, you don’t even have to get in your car in order to enjoy one of Philadelphia’s most famous creations other than the Declaration of Independence.
You can actually make a cheesesteak right at home. You just need the special ingredients and a little confidence. It’s a common misconception that only Philadelphians can make the sandwich. However, with a little practice, you could fool any Philly native into thinking it’s a genuine hometown cheesesteak.
The History of the Cheesesteak
The genesis of the Philly cheesesteak is often debated. Who created it first? When did it catch on? There are a lot of questions asked when delving into the original creation of the sandwich, but there is a popular legend that most Philadelphians ascribe to.
According to the legend, Pat and Harry Olivieri originally created the sandwich in the early 1930s. They ran a hot dog stand in South Philadelphia. To take a break from the normal diet of hot dogs, Pat and Harry decided to cook a sandwich with chopped-up beef and grilled onions. An onlooker noticed the sight and smell, and requested one. After the first bite, the patron suggested that they forgo the hot dogs and make their business dedicated to the new sandwich. It was that day that the idea of Pat’s King of Steaks was born.
Getting Your Ingredients
The Meat
In order to make the perfect cheesesteak for you and three others, you’ll need 2 to 2 ½ lbs of trimmed strip loin. You’ll want to put the meat in the freezer for a little less than an hour because it will make it easier to slice the meat.
The Bread
This is a heavily debated portion of the cheesesteak process. A lot of cheesesteak enthusiasts feel that the quality of the sandwich lies in the bread. However, there is some truth to this because a cheesesteak on a lower quality bread is undeniably noticeable when taking the first bite. You’ll want a hoagie roll, or if you can find it, Amoroso rolls, which are the go-to for most Philadelphians.
Making the Cheesesteak
- Place thinly sliced meat onto a griddle or grill pan with oil.
- Place over high heat and lightly season with salt and pepper.
- Cook meat on both sides for a minute each.
- Place preferred cheese on top of meat while still in the pan (if using whiz, place melted cheese directly on roll).
- If desired, caramelize onions or sauté peppers in a separate pan before placing on top of the sandwich.
- Place contents in roll and enjoy.
You can perfect the process, so next time your friends want to make the trip north, save them the time and gas money by making your own!
