Crockpot Italian Beef

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FOR THE BEEF:

▪4 lbs (2kg) beef chuck

▪Kosher salt

▪Olive oil

▪1 32oz box (900g) beef stock

▪10g onion powder

▪10g garlic powder

▪5g dried oregano

▪5g dried basil

▪3g chili flakes

▪5g coriander

▪5g paprika

▪50g Worcestershire sauce

▪25g tomato paste

▪50g beef bouillon (I use Better Than Bouillon)

FOR THE GIARDINIERA

▪150g (¼ head) cauliflower florets

▪150g (4 stalks) celery, diced

▪150g (2 medium) carrots, diced

▪150g (1 whole) green bell pepper, diced

▪150g (1 small) white onion, diced

▪75g (4-5) serrano chilies, thinly sliced

▪5-6 cloves garlic, pressed

▪600g white distilled vinegar

▪400g water

▪30g salt

▪300g canola oil

▪200g olive oil

FOR THE ITALIAN ROLLS

▪225g warm water

▪9g instant yeast

▪20g olive oil

▪15g sugar

▪350g bread flour

▪9g salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut beef chuck into 5-6 large chunks, about 2-3 inches across.

2. Season beef generously with kosher salt (approximately 2-3 tbsp or 30g) and let it sit for 15 minutes.

3. Heat olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat.Sear the beef chunks for 5-10 minutes until browned on two sides.

4. Add beef to a slow cooker. I like to use my instant pot for this.

5. Deglaze the pan with a splash of water or stock, then pour it over the beef in the slow cooker.

6. Add stock, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, basil, chili flakes, coriander, paprika, worcestershire, tomato paste, and beef bouillon to the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Slow cook on low for 8-10 hours or until tender.

7. Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it into smaller pieces, but not fully shredded.

8. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat and refry the shredded beef for 4-5 minutes until it’s a littlel crispy around the edges

9. Add 2-3 cups of beef jus to the pan and reduce by half.

10. To assemble the sandwiches, slightly crisp up the Italian rolls in the oven for 5 minutes.

11. Layer giardiniera, shredded refried Italian beef, and concentrated jus on the rolls.

12. Wrap the sandwiches tightly with parchment paper.

GIARDINIERA

1. Break down cauliflower into small florets. Small dice celery, carrots, bell pepper, onion. Thinly slice chiles and press or mince garlic. Combine in a bowl.

2. In a pot, bring vinegar, water, and salt to a boil. Add in the vegetables, remove from heat, cover, and let them cool in the brine. Once cool, marinate for at least 8 hours in the refrigerator.

3. The next day, drain the pickling liquid and top the vegetables with canola oil and olive oil.

ITALIAN HOAGIE ROLLS

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Combine Ingredients in a stand mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook.

3. Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes or until dough is well combined and clearing the bowl, then increase to high speed and mix for 4 more minutes until the dough is fully developed and you can tug on it without it ripping.

4. Transfer dough to a bowl and round it into a ball. Cover and ferment at room temperature for 90 minutes. It should have doubled in size.

5. Divide the dough into two pieces, shape them into balls, cover, and let them rest for 15 minutes.

6. Shape each piece of dough into a 12-inch tube (see video @7:00) and place them onto the back of a sheet tray lined with parchment paper

7. Cover and proof for 60 minutes. They should double in size

8. Spray the rolls with water, score them tip to tip with a razor blade or serrated knife, and bake for 30 minutes at 375°F (190°C) until golden brown.