Katie’s Roast Beef Sandwiches

From left to right, Jay, Kenny, and "Little Kenny." — From left to right, Jay, Kenny, and “Little Kenny.” Click on the photo to hear them play and sing.

This is what RootsLiving is all about.

My friends Kenny and Katie recently hosted what we like to call a “hootenanny,” complete with guitar singing, food, and good friends.

Kenny is a singer/songwriter and he, and my friend, Jay (who you might remember helped me out on the backyard makeover project) played guitar and sang, taking requests from the small audience in Kenny’s dining room. Kenny’s 16-year-old son, “Little Kenny” also joined in for a few numbers, playing bass.

Katie is one of the best cooks I know. She made a slow-roasted roast beef for sandwiches with Boursin cheese and tomato. And everyone else brought one appetizer. I brought my AI (Asian-Italian) Chicken Wings.

Here’s Katie’s recipe. Please note that this takes some time (24 hours in a salt wrap in the refrigerator), but is fairly easy to make and will be the best roast beef for sandwiches, if you follow the directions exactly.

Katie's Roast Beef Sandwiches

March 14, 2010

Prep: 24 hr

Difficulty: Medium

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By: Mark Micheli

Ingredients

Boneless eye-round roast (3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pound)
Kosher salt (4 teaspoons)
Vegetable oil (2 tsp.)
Pepper (2 tsp.)
Boursin cheese (about 5 or 6 oz. or so
enough for as many sandwiches as you’re making)
Mayonnaise (about 5 or 6 oz.
just enough to make the Boursin cheese spreadable.)
French rolls (or any good Italian bread) (Katie got her rolls at Colarusso’s Bakery in Stoneham, Mass. and they were great!)
Tomato slices (enough for as many sandwiches as you’re making.)

Directions

Step 1 Sprinkle all sides of the roast with the salt. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 18-24 hours.
Step 2 Pre-heat oven to 225 degrees.
Step 3 Pat the roast dry with paper towels. Rub with 2 tsp. of the oil and sprinkle all sides evenly with pepper.
Step 4 Heat the remaining 1 tsp. of oil in a skillet over medium heat and then sear the roast until brown on all sides (about 3-4 minutes per side.)
Step 5 Transfer roast to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. And roast for about 20 minutes per pound (Katie’s 4.25 pound roast beef took 1 1/2 hours to cook).
Step 6 Shut oven off and DO NOT OPEN OVEN FOR 30 MINUTES.
Step 7 Put roast on carving board and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Step 8 Mix just enough mayo into the Boursin cheese to make the cheese spreadable (about half and half).
Step 9 Put a slice of roast beef in the roll. Spread Boursin cheese mixture on top. Add a few slices of tomatoes. (Note: If you’re having a party — or a hootenanny — you can put the roast beef slices, Boursin cheese spread, tomatoes, and rolls out on separate plates and let your guests make their own sandwiches.)