A couple weeks ago I picked up a 6-quart slow cooker and have been cooking up something new each weekend. Yesterday I made up some Italian Beef for the first time and it was delicious. I found several recipes online, and modified them slightly to my liking.
The cast of characters:
3 to 4 pound bottom or rump roast
1 yellow onion
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
Sliced jalapeno peppers (optional)
14.5 oz can of whole tomatoes, undrained
12 oz of your favorite beer (you can use water if you choose)
2 tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons basil
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/5 teaspoon anise
1 teaspoon salt, kosher if you got it
Combine salt, basil, oregano, cayenne pepper, and anise, and introduce it to your roast. You don’t have to completely coat the roast in the rub, but make sure they are on good terms with one another. Slice onion, and the green and red peppers into rings, set half of them aside. Place roast in the slow cooker, and put half of the onions and peppers in with it. Add remaining spices, as well as the beer or water and tomatoes. You can also add some jalapenos in at this time if you want. Set the cooker on low and start cooking for 6 hours. After 6 hours, add the remaining onions and pepper and cook for another two hours. I did it this way since I was going to be home during the whole cooking processes, but if that is not possible for you, cook it on low for 8-10 hours, adding the remaining veggies when you can. I turned my slow cooker up to high for the last hour as it was getting late and I was hungry. The beef is done when it easily pulls away with a fork.
When it is done, take the beef out of the slow cooker and place on a plate. Using two forks, pull and shred the beef apart. This was the first time I had done any shredding in the kitchen and it was easier than I expected. Once shredded, place the beef back into the crock with the juices. If you want, you can strain the juices to make it ‘pure’, but it is fine the way it is.
The standard way of eating this is on a hoagie roll with mozzarella cheese. As I am on a low carb diet, I passed on the bread and ate it from a bowl with some cheese on top, and it was delicious! I can see myself making this often in the future and sharing with friends.