Lunch / Dinner
French Dip au Jus
When the theme is casual, there’s just a hard-to-express goodness about a well-made sandwich for supper, and you don’t need to be a chef to make one that’s a knockout.
With leftover roast beef on your hands, making a French dip is a no-brainer. This American original is easy to make at home, yet every bit as good as a restaurant version. Three elements help you achieve that — simmering mirepoix in seasoned beef broth to concentrate the flavor of the jus, thinly slicing the roast beef to make it easier to eat the sandwich, and brushing the rolls with melted butter for extra flavor.
Ingredients
FOR THE JUS, SAUTÉ:
FOR THE SANDWICHES, BRUSH:
Test Kitchen Tip
Use the leftover beef from this Roast Beef Dinner, or purchase roast beef from the grocery store deli.
Instructions
Preheat broiler to high with rack 6 inches from element. Line a small baking sheet with foil.
For the jus, sauté onion, celery, and carrot in oil in a saucepan until softened, 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute. Add broth, bay leaf, Worcestershire, and beef base to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer jus until reduced by half, 10 minutes. Strain jus and return to pan; season with salt and pepper. Keep jus warm.
For the sandwiches, brush rolls, inside and outside, with melted butter and sprinkle tops with coarse salt. Broil rolls on prepared baking sheet until toasted, about 1 minute per side. Divide beef between bottom rolls and top with cheese; broil until cheese is bubbly, 2–3 minutes, then add top roll. Slice French Dips in half and serve with jus.
Adding tomato paste and cooking it with the mirepoix gives the jus body and deep, rich flavor.
To add extra flavor, brush the rolls on the outside and inside with melted butter, then broil to toast.
Build the sandwich on the bottom rolls, then broil them to heat the meat and melt the cheese.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 660
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 50%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 139mg 46%
Sodium 516mg 21%
Carbs 35g 11%
Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 55g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.