Roast Beef Sandwich with Garlic Mayo

 

When most folks think of a meat sammich, their minds turn to the prepackaged lunch meats at the local grocery. While many of those products will show up here as parts of a sammich, real meat sammiches start with REAL MEAT...from the butcher. People can argue the merits of this cut or that cut, but the point is that a meat sammich begins wrapped in butcher paper and not in a blister pack. Okay, rant over!
Now, to enjoy a proper meat sammich - in this case, roast beef - it is essential that the roast beef is melt away tender and that was achieved with a slow cooker. Properly seasoned and slow cooked, even the most humble of pot roasts will provide a drool-worthy sammich. 
A crusty sourdough will provide a great stage for the roast beef, and, along with the meat, a complementary condiment is essential. For this sammich, we created an aioli, or, more simply, a garlic mayonnaise.  
Finally, after the bread is buttered and the sammich assembled, it will be pressed to unite all of the flavors - onions, cheese, roast beef and garlic mayo - and serve as a satisfying dinner or lunch.
In the event your timetable does not allow for the slow cooker option, your deli case has roast beef - NOT in a blister pack - that will serve...as long as you remember the other elements.


Bread - sourdough
Meat - slow cooked pot roast
Cheese - provolone cheese (my favorite sammich cheese, try your favorite, too)
Seasonings - salt and pepper
Toppings - onions, garlic mayonnaise

FIXINS'
2 lb pot roast
3 T. water

onion, sliced

1-2 t. minced garlic

olive oil (vegetable oil is acceptable)

1 c. mayonnaise

sour dough bread, sliced

salt and pepper, as desired

 

Set slow cooker to HIGH and cook pot roast for 4-5 hours. Use temperature probe to insure it is 170 degrees.   

Toppings - In the meantime, place a 1 cup of mayonnaise in a bowl and add 1-2 t. minced garlic and mix well. 
Saute onions in butter until translucent. Set aside.

 

Once the roast has been allowed to rest at room temp for 10-15 minutes, slice thinly.  Next, slice the sour dough loaf into sandwich-sized slices. 

 Pot Roast Sammich with Garlic Mayo

  Assembling

• Spread the garlic mayo on each slice of sour dough bread.
• Add the pot roast slices and onions, then place a slice of provolone cheese on each sandwich.
• Butter the sour dough on each side of the sandwich and place in a hot skillet.
• Press the sandwich (use a panini maker, if you have one) by placing a foil-wrapped cast iron skillet on top...this will flatten the sandwich allowing the cheese to melt and mix with the onions. 
• Once it's lightly toasted, flip and repeat on the other side. 

Cut sandwiches in half and serve with a dill pickle spear and your favorite sandwich side dish.

Thought for the moment - Bad losers make worse winners.