Italian Beef Sandwiches and Hot Giardiniera

These sandwiches taste like they came straight from Chicago. Slow cooked beef with melted cheese and fresh giardiniera on top in a soft hoagie bun. One of my absolute favorite recipes. 

Ingredients for Giardiniera (Make at least 5 days before you plan on making beef) -

• 1/4 cup table salt ie Mortons
• 1 cup small diced carrots (I buy a small bag carrot sticks and dice them up)
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• 4 to 8 serrano peppers,  chopped
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 stalk celery,  diced small
• 1 red bell pepper, diced small
• 2 cups vegetable oil (do not use evoo- will turn to jello in fridge if you do)
• 1 Tb dried oregano 
• 1/2 t ground black pepper

Combine 2 cups water and salt in a large glass bowl. Mix until salt is dissolved. Add the carrots,  cauliflower,  serranos, garlic, celery and bell pepper to the water and cover and refrigerate over night.

The next day drain and rinse the veggies. In a large Mason jar or bowl with lid, mix the oil with the oregano and pepper. Add the drained vegetables and mix to combine. 

Seal and allow to marinate a few days at the minimum. I try to prepare my giardiniera 5 days in advance as it only gets better with time in the fridge. Giardiniera keeps in air tight jars up to 2 weeks.

Ingredients for Italian Beef:

• 2 1/2 lb chuck roast
• 3 cups beef broth 
• 1 t salt
• 1 t pepper
• 1 t dried oregano
• 1 t dried basil
• 1 t onion powder
• 1 t dried parsley
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 (.7 oz) package dry Italian style salad dressing mix 
• 2 pepperoncinis if available
• Provolone cheese slices
• Hoagie buns
• Prepared hot giardiniera

Combine beef broth with salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, bay leaf and salad dressing mix in a saucepan. Stir well and bring to a boil.

Place roast in slow cooker and pour dressing mixture over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. 

At hour 8, remove bay leaf and shred beef. Do not drain. If you have any on hand, throw in a couple pepperoncini's. If you don't have any, don't worry about it. 

Cook for 1 hour more.

Serve on hoagie buns with provolone cheese and hot giardiniera.  Makes a ton of leftovers and heats up so well :)