Happy super bowl! In honor of the super bowl, I made some Philly Cheesesteak Stromboli! We live New England, but hey, I grew up about 20 minutes from Philly, so go Eagles! (not that I'm a sports fan)
If you've ever been to Philly, then you've probably had a cheesesteak. And you probably also know that there's no point in going to any of the big names in cheesesteaks . . . the food trucks are great! There are a few important aspects to any cheesesteak: 1) very thinly-sliced shaved steak, 2) pick the right cheese (American is the right cheese), and 3) bread that's soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
This stromboli recipe is pretty simple (though a bit time consuming): it's just cheesesteak filling wrapped in fresh pizza crust. I can't stress the fresh thing enough. The really important thing is that the crust needs to rise so you have a nice bread.
Philly Cheesesteak Stromboli
Makes: 4 servings
Prep time: 2½ hours
Cook time: 45-50 minutes
For the crust
⅔ cup warm water
1 packet (5/16 oz) dry active yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
2 cups (240 grams) bread flour
½ tsp salt
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the filling
½ sweet onion, coarsly chopped
1 green pepper, coarsely chopped
1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 lb shaved steak
Freshly ground salt and pepper
5 slices of American cheese
2-4 Tbsp ketchup
Olive oil, for brushing
Garlic powder, dried rosemary, and dried basil
1. First, make the pizza crust: mix together the warm water, yeast, and sugar and allow to rest for about 5 minutes until frothy. If the mixture doesn't become frothy, start over because your yeast is likely dead. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and salt, then make a well in the center of the mixture.
2. Pour the yeast mixture and olive oil into the well. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the liquid from the boundary until a dough forms. Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth (about 5 minutes).
3. Place dough in large floured mixing bowl and cover bowl with a damp cloth. Place in a warm location for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled in volume.
TIP: If your house tends to be cold and you don't have a warm place to put the dough, turn on your oven for about 2 minutes, then turn it off. Place the bowl with the dough in the oven to rise.
4. As soon as you're finished with the crust, start on the filling; it'll need to cool before you fill the stromboli. Heat some oil in a frying pan over medium heat, then add the onions, peppers, and Worcestershire sauce and cook until softened.
5. Add the steak to the frying pan, then cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the meat is browned. Add the cheese and ketchup, then stir until well combined. If there's any liquid in the pan, cook until the liquid is gone. Allow to sit until it is about room temperature.
6. Roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle on a floured surface until it's about ¼-inch thick. Spoon the filling onto the dough about 1-2 inches from the edges.
7. Roll up the stromboli along one of the long edges, then, with the seam on the bottom, let it rest for about another hour to continue rising.
8. Preheat the oven to 350℉. While it preheats, place the stromboli on a large baking sheet and poke holes every 2 inches with a knife. Brush the surface with olive oil, then season with garlic powder, basil, and rosemary. Bake for about 40 minutes, then serve with your favorite tomato sauce.