Cookbook:Au Jus Sandwich

| Cookbook:Cuisine of the United States | Cuisine of California The au jus sandwich is also known as roast beef au jus, and is better known in America as the french dip sandwich. It traces its origins to downtown Los Angeles in either 1908 or 1918, when a local restaurant owner was making a sandwich for a police officer and accidentally dropped it into a pan of beef broth.

The officer liked the sandwich so much that he brought some friends in the next day for the new invention. From that point on, the Au Jus sandwich went on to become internationally known. Two Los Angeles restaurants claim to have created the sandwich: Philippe The Original and Cole's Pacific Electric (P.E.) Buffet. Both have been in operation since 1908. For more information on the history of the sandwich, see the Wikipedia article.

Ingredients

 * 3 tablespoons flour
 * 2 - 3 lb roast or other cut of beef
 * 1 beef bouillon cube
 * 1 can (~2 cups / 16 oz / 470 ml) beef consommé, bouillon cube equivalent, or additional roast beef
 * 1 can (~2 cups / 16 oz / 470 ml) French onion soup
 * 1 cup (2 sticks / 250 g / 8.8 oz) butter
 * 1 can (16 oz / 470 ml) beer (optional)
 * Spices (e.g. salt, pepper) (optional)
 * 4 French/sandwich/hoagie rolls

Procedure

 * 1) Combine all the ingredients except the rolls in a slow cooker or crock pot. Let the mixture simmer for at least six hours. This step is critical because it makes the meat tender.
 * 2) Serve beef on split rolls.
 * 3) You can either pre-dip the sandwich, or serve with a bowl of meat drippings. When serving the drippings separately, remove the beef shreds from the juices and serve with a small bowl of meat drippings on the side. Dip the sandwiches in the drippings as you eat.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * Bread can be toasted and buttered before adding beef.
 * In the original sandwich, the bread was dipped in the juice prior to adding the meat, rather than dipped at the table.
 * Other meats can be substituted, including lamb, pork, and turkey.
 * Try adding cheese, horseradish, or mustard to the sandwich.

Warnings

 * Always follow the instructions for your slow cooker or crock pot.