Chicago Style Sandwiches
September 20, 2020
It is time to celebrate some of the best things about Chicago including the beloved Chicago-style hot-dog, Italian Beef sandwich, the classic gyro, and Sara Lee® Premium Meats.
Today I will be sharing three sandwiches that are not only super delicious, but they also incorporate our beloved hometown brand, Sara Lee® Premium Meats, and give a little wink and a nod to Chicago and some of the foods that our city is best known for. What I love about Sara Lee® Premium Meats is that they are consistently fresh and delicious, and a product that I feel good about sharing with my family because they are made with high-quality cuts of meats and ingredients.
Chicago-Style Ham Sandwich
If you are from Chicago, you know which ingredients go on a Chicago-Style Hot Dog. For starters, it is never ketchup! On a Chicago-Style hot dog, you will find onion, sweet pickle relish, tomato slices, yellow mustard, pickled sport peppers, a dash of celery salt, and a dill pickle spear.
I decided to put a fun twist on this Chicago classic and make a Chicago-Style Ham Sandwich. To make this sandwich, you will start with Sara Lee® Honey Ham and top it with all of the ingredients that you’d typically find on a Chicago-Style Hot Dog. Don’t forget the sprinkle of celery salt, it’s the perfect addition to this ham sandwich. Use any sandwich roll that you’d like, or even a poppy seed sandwich roll if you can find them.
The result? A delicious Chicago-Style Ham Sandwich that is everything a ham sandwich should be and tastes so similar to the beloved Chicago-Style Hot Dog. I love the combination of ham and mustard and with all of the other fun toppings, especially the pickled sport peppers, it is so satisfying.
What you need
White onion – chopped.
Sweet Pickle Relish.
Tomato slices.
Yellow mustard.
Pickled sport peppers.
Dash of celery Salt.
Dill Pickle Spears.
Sandwich rolls or poppyseed buns.
How to Make it
1.Layer slices of Sara Lee® Honey Ham on a sandwich roll.
2.Top with chopped white onion, sweet pickle relish, tomato slices, yellow mustard, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt.
3.Serve with a dill pickle spear on the side.
Beef and Cheddar Croissant / Italian Beef Sandwich
While the Italian Beef Sandwich is a Chicago legend, The Beef and Cheddar Croissant is also a popular favorite.
*Pro-tip: If you are getting your meat sliced to order, ask for it to be sliced extra thin.
While this is a simple sandwich, do not underestimate its deliciousness! You can even add spoonfuls of juice/gravy on top of the sandwich to make it extra delicious, or dip the entire sandwich in the gravy. In Chicago, this is called a “dipped” Italian Beef or a “Wet” Italian Beef.
What you need
3 cups beef stock.
1 teaspoon dried oregano.
1 teaspoon dried basil.
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flake.
1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Sara Lee® Angus Medium Roast Beef.
Cheddar cheese sauce or slices of cheddar cheese.
Croissant rolls.
For a more traditional Italian Beef sandwich, add meat to a sliced Italian Bread roll, and top with sweet peppers or giardiniera.
How to Make it
1.In a large saucepan, combine beef stock with oregano, basil, red pepper flake, and black pepper. Heat on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
2.To the saucepan, add shaved Sara Lee® Angus Medium Roast Beef and heat for about 3 minutes.
3.Add the heated meat to a croissant, then top with prepared cheddar cheese sauce or sliced cheddar cheese.
4.To assemble a more traditional Italian Beef sandwich, start with a sliced Italian Bread roll, add slices of heated roast beef and top with either sweet peppers or giardinier).
5.Add spoonfuls of juice/gravy on top of the sandwich if desired.
Turkey Gyro Sandwich
If you are from Chicago, you know that while a gyro is not unique to Chicago, it is an important part of Chicago’s identity, especially if you visit Greektown! With that in mind, I decided to make a Turkey Gyro Sandwich.
To make this sandwich you will start with Sara Lee® Oven Roasted Turkey Breast. Then you will add creamy tzatziki sauce, raw onion, and tomato wedges on a pita. It is simple, yet so flavorful and satisfying. Sprinkle a bit of Italian seasoning on top for an extra flavor boost. I personally like this one served cold, but you could also heat it in the oven for a toasted turkey gyro sandwich.
What you need
How to Make it
1.Layer slices of Sara Lee® Oven Roasted Turkey Breast on pita bread.
2.Top with tzatziki sauce, raw onion slices, and tomato wedges.
3.Enjoy cold or heat in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes.