Something seems fishy

I had a craving for a beef dip sandwich. I briefly thought about picking up French onion soup mix and using it to flavour my beef roast, but then I thought, nah, I can do it from scratch just as easily.

I got a nice chuck roast from Ralph’s and large, soft buns from Metro. I set up the crock pot on Saturday morning and then let it do its thing while I went shopping at Costco in Kingston.

When I returned, the crock pot had finished cooking and was on its warm setting. I cooked some sliced cremini mushrooms and, while my beef and onion mixture was simmering in its braise, I toasted my buns and sliced some cheese. I melted the cheese on the bun, then piled on the beef and mushrooms. We made some fries, and dinner was served.

It was so delicious that I have to go get another roast and do it again. I was also wondering about doing it with chicken thighs for another yummy sandwich.

Slow cooker French onion beef sandwich

2 1/2 lbs. chuck roast

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

2 onions, sliced

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup red wine

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 cups beef stock

2 sprigs thyme

2 sprigs rosemary

Season the roast all over with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika. Heat the oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef and sear on all sides to get a nice brown crust. Put the beef in a crock pot.

In the same pan, add the onions and garlic and sauté for 3–5 minutes, then add to the beef. Deglaze the pan with the red wine, stirring with a wooden spoon to loosen any bits on the bottom of the pan. Add to the crock pot.

Pour the Worcestershire sauce and stock over the beef and tuck in the thyme and rosemary. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours, until the beef is very tender and falling apart. Turn the beef over in the braising liquid halfway through the cooking time.

Remove the beef and pull it apart using two forks. Remove the onions with a slotted spoon and mix them in with the beef. Pour the liquid into a separate container.

To make sandwiches, heat the beef with some braising liquid, pile it on toasted kaiser buns and serve some braising liquid on the side for dipping.

Makes 6 sandwiches.