How to Make a Beautiful Beef Sandwich from Every Part of the World

Whether your cows go moo, meuh, ụm bò or eum-mae, it’s hard denying the sheer pleasure of biting into a good chunk of beef. And thankfully, no matter where you go around the world, there’s no shortage of ways to transform the humble bovine from merely pastoral to truly divine.

We enlisted the help of Chef Frank DeLoach to put together a list of delicious recreations of some of the world’s most iconic beef sandwiches. From meatball marinara subs to deep fried Mexican cemitas to scallion pancake bulgogi flatbreads, all you’ll need is 45 minutes per sandwich and a whole lot of meat. Friends and family to share all these with are completely optional.

_______________

Korean Kimchee Bulgogi Sandwich on Scallion Pancake Flatbread

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 lbs Beef Short Ribs, cleaned and de-boned
1 small sliced shallot
1 inch of sliced and crushed ginger
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 lime juice
2 tsps roasted sesame seeds
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp Mirin (Japanese rice wine, found in the ethnic section of the grocery store)
1 tbsp of rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp of Hoisin (a kind of Asian barbecue sauce, found in the ethnic session)
8 oz kimchee
1 – 2 4 oz packs King Oyster Mushrooms, cut into quarters
2 bunches cilantro
1 package frozen scallion pancakes

Directions:
1. Clean and de-rib Beef Short Ribs. Set aside.
2. Mix shallot, ginger, garlic, lime, Hoisin, Mirin, rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and soy sauce in bowl. Add short ribs and let sit for 15 – 20 minutes.
3. Heat frozen pancakes with light oil in large frying pan until both sides are golden brown.
4. Cook mushrooms on high heat until golden.
5. In large pan, cook meat with marinade over high heat until sauce has fully absorbed.
6. Once cooled, assemble meat, mushrooms, kimchee, cilantro, and sesame seeds on top of scallion pancakes and serve.

_______________

South American Corn Bread Arepa with Watermelon and Salsa Verde

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 lbs thinly sliced Flank Steak
2 oz feta
1 slice watermelon
radishes and pea sprouts as desired

Salsa Verde
4 large tomatillos, cut into quarters
1 serrano chile, sliced
1 lime, juiced
1 bunch cilantro
1/2 bunch of scallions, white parts included
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
1 teaspoon of sesame seeds
2.5 teaspoons of rice wine vinegar
2 small shallots, sliced

Corn Bread
2 cups masarepa or masa harina flour
1 3/4 cups water

Directions:
1. Place tomatillos, chile, lime, cilantro, scallions, sesame oil, sesame seeds, rice wine vinegar, and shallots into blender. Add one big pinch of salt. Blend ’til smooth.
2. In large bowl, marinade meat with salsa verde and let sit anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours.
3. Mix masarepa flour and water, then form into flat “loaves,” enough for four tops and four bottoms. Fry bread at 325 degrees until golden brown on broth sides.
4. Cook meat in cast iron pan on high heat until medium.
5. Assemble marinated meat, vegetables, watermelon, and cheese on flatbread.

_______________

Italian Burrata Parmesan Meatball Marinara Sub

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
3 oz of Burrata
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bread roll
parmesan as desired
peperoncinis as desired

Meatballs
2 lbs Ground Beef
1 large egg
1 6-inch baguette
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp salt
1/4 cup parmesan
Pinch of chile flakes

Marinara
2 28oz cans crushed San Arzano tomatoes
1/4 cup small diced carrot
4 small or 2 med/large thinly sliced shallots
1.5 tsp salt
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp olive oil
handful of basil, stemmed

Directions:
1. In a mixing bowl, tear baguette into small pieces. Pour in milk and mash bread and milk mixture until soft and mushy. Add egg and ground beef and mix with hands thoroughly.
2. Form 3 – 4 ounce meatballs with meat mixture, plus one smaller, flatter meatball for taste testing.
3. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to sauté pan, then cook meatballs approximately 15 minutes on high heat until golden brown. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
4. Combine olive oil, carrots, shallots, and salt into separate sauce pot on stove on medium high heat. Cook until there’s a little color. Add tomato paste and basil, and lightly sweat to bring out oils. Finally, add crushed tomatoes and let simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add marinara sauce to meatball pan and cook on simmering heat for 15 minutes.
6. Lightly toast bread roll.
7. Place burrata, basil, and peperoncinis on bread roll. Add meatballs and top with parmesan.

_______________

Vietnamese Sriracha Mayo Banh Mi

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
20 oz Beef Ribeye, thinly sliced
1/2 carrot, shredded
3 inches daikon, peeled and shredded
1 baguette, lightly toasted
rice wine vinegar

Sriracha Mayo
Kewpie (Japanese mayonnaise, found in Asian grocery stores)
Sriracha

Directions:
1. Combine carrot and daikon in bowl. Pour over with rice vinegar, just enough to cover carrots and daikon. Set aside for at least half an hour.
2. Sear ribeye on high heat, approximately 30 seconds a side.
3. Mix 1 parts Kewpie and 1 1/2 parts Sriracha. Spread on baguette as desired.
4. Assemble all ingredients on baguette.

_______________

Spiced Middle Eastern Beef Pita with Sumac Lebneh

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients:
6 cucumbers, chopped
Approx. 12 – 15 dates, chopped
10 – 12 sprigs cilantro
6 pitas

Meat Loaf
2 lbs Ground Beef
1.5 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp dried lemon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp white pepper

Sumac Lebneh
2 cups of lebneh (strained yogurt cheese)
2 tbsp sumac
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
1. Mix meat loaf ingredients in large bowl, pounding aggressively until it reaches a pasty texture. Form mixture into loaf and brown all sides on stove, about 8 minutes each.
2. Mix lebneh ingredients in separate bowl and set aside.
3. Thinly slice loaf into strips like gyro meat. Spread sumac lebneh onto pita then fill with meat, cucumbers, dates, and cilantro as desired.

_______________

French Dip with Melted Gruyere

Prep Time: 45 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 lbs Chuck Steak, thinly sliced
1 baguette, lightly toasted
8 oz gruyere
6 oz creme fraiche
salt and pepper

Au Jus
3 shallots
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups beef stock

Directions:
1. Split shallots and sweat in sauce pot over medium to high heat. Add olive oil.
2. Pour in beef broth and let mixture boil until it thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Cook meat in au jus to medium rare, about 4 minutes, then remove from au jus. Set remaining jus aside for dipping.
4. Assemble creme fraiche, cheese, and meat on baguette.

_______________

Pan Fried Mexican Cemita with Chile Slaw and Tapatio Mayo

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 lbs Beef Ribeye Steak
4 loaves ciabatta, lightly toasted
flour, for dusting
1 oz cotija

Chile Slaw
2 sprigs cilantro
1 scallion, sliced
1 shallot, sliced
1 lime, juiced
1 fresno pepper
1 yellow chile pepper
1 serrano pepper
1 Anaheim pepper

Tapatio Mayo
Kewpie
Tapatio

Directions:
1. Lightly dredge meat in flour then fry at 375 degrees, about 30 seconds per side.
2. Thinly slice peppers then marinate with lime juice along with scallions and shallots. Set aside.
3. Mix 1 part Kewpie to 1.5 parts Tapatio, as much as desired. Spread on ciabatta.
4. Assemble meat, seasoned vegetables, and cheese on bread.

Recipes created in partnership with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Funded by the Beef Checkoff.