Chef John's Beef on Weck Sandwiches

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(20)

Welcome to one of this country's most delicious unknown sandwiches, the Beef on Weck. This simple but brilliant creation features thinly sliced, horseradish-covered roast beef piled high on a freshly baked kummelweck roll. When you add a steaming ramekin of fresh beef jus for dunking, you'll understand why this is the pride of Western New York (sorry, chicken wings). Serve with chips or fries and pickles on the side.

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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef top-sirloin roast

  • salt and pepper to taste

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour, or as needed

  • 2 ½ cups cold beef broth

  • 2 teaspoons aged balsamic vinegar, or to taste

  • 4 kummelweck dinner rolls, split

  • ¼ cup extra-hot prepared horseradish, or to taste

Directions

  1. Season beef with salt and black pepper.

  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef roast in hot oil until browned on all sides on each side, 4 to 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 125 degrees F (52 degrees C). Transfer beef to a plate to rest.

  3. Remove skillet from heat and whisk flour into skillet until flour taste cooks off, about 1 minute. Pour cold beef broth into skillet; place skillet over medium-high heat. Stir balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and any accumulated juices from the roast beef plate into beef broth mixture; cook until jus reduces slightly, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.

  4. Slice sirloin as thinly as possible against the grain. Pile meat onto the base of each roll. Spread a thick layer of horseradish on the top bun and place top bun over meat. Serve with jus for dipping.

    close up view of a Beef on Weck Sandwich served with potato chips and gravy on a white plate
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Chef's Notes

There are many cuts of beef used for this, including top round, rump roast, and brisket, but I like to use a nice, thick top-sirloin roast. Instead of cooking it in the oven, I like to pan-roast this on the stove top. Since top sirloin roasts are only a couple inches thick, they cook relatively fast. They're also tender, flavorful, and because of their shape, very easy to slice thinly, which is one of the keys to this amazing sandwich.

Make your own caraway rolls with Chef John's Kummelweck recipe.

42 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

388 Calories
14g Fat
18g Carbs
46g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 388
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 79mg 26%
Sodium 817mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 46g 92%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 96mg 7%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 689mg 15%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.