There are far more controversies over the Philly Cheesesteak than you would imagine. I mean what’s there to be controversial about? Bun, steak, cheese, that doesn’t seem so hard.
From condiments to the type of cheese, the wrong way could have you kicked out of the restaurant by a priest… or so legend says.
How do you make the perfect Philly Cheesesteak? And what are Philly-approved toppings?
Keep reading to find out.
Treat Yourself to a Philly Cheesesteak
The Philly Cheesesteak can be quite difficult to replicate perfectly. To be considered a Philly Cheesesteak there are certain guidelines that you must follow.
The roll needs to be sliced in half-length ways, there can’t be too many additions, and you must never ever put mustard on your Philly Cheesesteak. You will be blacklisted if you do. If you like mustard on your cheesesteak, keep it to yourself to be safe and use that in the privacy of your own home.
The absolute easiest way to make a proper Philly cheesesteak is to order food online. Unless, of course, you are up to the task!
Step 1: The Meat
When choosing the meat for your Philly Cheesesteak, you much choose something that has a good balance of meat and fat, something like a ribeye.
Season your ribeye steak with salt, pepper, and garlic. Slice your steak very thin, and cook on a flat top on high heat to a nice medium-rare. Be sure that you don’t overcook it! There is nothing worse than overcooked steak.
Step 2: The Roll
Choose a nice thick roll that can support your Philly Cheesesteak and all the toppings you choose. A steak roll, sub roll, or Italian roll would be best.
Lightly toast your roll. You want the roll to still be a bit soft, but be stable enough to hold all of the fillings.
Step 3: The Onion
Some Philadelphians will tell you that you have to thinly slice your onions into rings, and some say they need to be diced. Everyone can agree that they need to be perfectly caramelized sweet onions.
Step 4: The Cheese
Now here is where it gets tricky. Provolone cheese is a safe choice and most likely the original choice. Somewhere along the way, restaurants started offering other choices such as white American cheese and cheese wiz.
There are some who will say cheese wiz is the only acceptable option and others will claim that if you use cheese wiz you are not a true Philadelphian. We will let you decide the cheese type for yourself.
Ultimate Cheesesteak Hoagie
A very common variation of the Philly Cheesesteak is the cheesesteak hoagie. A classic cheesesteak with mayo on the bun, with lettuce and tomato placed under the steak, and often topped with oregano.
Other Philly Cheesesteak Approved Toppings
A classic Philly Cheesesteak is just onion, steak, and cheese on a roll. There are a few toppings approved by the Philly community. Philly-approved toppings include mushrooms, peppers, pizza sauce, fried tomatoes, and hot cherry peppers.
Check out our other blog posts for other tips, suggestions, and facts about everything you could imagine food-related!
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