The Baltimore pit beef is an icon of the Maryland culinary scene.
The Baltimore Pit Beef Sandwich is a sandwich (kaiser roll) with thin slices of roast – similar to roast beef – smoked beef, raw onion, and a horseradish sauce called tiger sauce.
Tradition has it that this recipe originated in Baltimore, specifically in the industrial neighborhood populated by blue-collar workers.
It involves eye round beef, thinly sliced, with a very savory crust and a slight smoky flavor.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 People
- Cooking methods: Grill
- Cuisine: American
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients for Baltimore Pit Beef Sandwich:
- 2.2 lbs eye round beef (or top round)
- as needed vegetable oil (or mustard)
- as needed rub
- 6 kaiser rolls
- 2 onions
- 1.7 cups mayonnaise
- 0.6 cups mustard
- 1 lemon
- 1.4 horseradish paste
Tools
- smoking chips
- 1 Thermometer meat
Steps
Brush the eye round or top round with oil or mustard, apply the chosen rub – it’s recommended to use the classic SPG, salt, pepper, garlic in a 2:2:1 ratio – wrap in plastic wrap while waiting for the barbecue to reach a temperature of 428°F.
If using, add smoking chips.
Cook initially over high direct heat, then indirect – about 230°F -, until reaching an internal temperature of 125°F (about 1 hour per kg of meat).
Slice very thinly, against the grain.
For the tiger sauce: mix the ingredients.
Cut the kaiser roll in half, spread the tiger sauce, add the slices of meat (generously), finishing with raw onion rings.
You can purchase the personalized cutting board on the Affetta Tartufi Tenderni website with my discount code SELENE10.
You can purchase the personalized cutting board on the Affetta Tartufi Tenderni website with my discount code SELENE10.
Check out my review on the INKBIRD INT-11X-B digital kitchen thermometer here
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is Baltimore pit beef like roast beef?
Roast beef is primarily made with the loin and sirloin (entrecote), the piece is roasted, which means it is initially cooked on high heat, then continued on moderate heat.
It can be cooked either in a pot or in the oven.
A Baltimore Pit Beef is an eye round cooked on an open grill, in high direct heat, away from the coals, and at a fairly high temperature, around 428-446°F.
With a cooking degree a few degrees lower than a roast beef and which we could quantify in about 122-125°F.What is a kaiser roll?
The Kaiser roll (also Kaiserweck(en), Kaiserbrötchen, Sternsemmel, or Tafelbrötchen) is a crusty white bread roll cut into a star shape (originally, the star is created with a special winding technique of the dough) originating from Austria.
It is an ingredient in various Austrian dishes like semmelknödel, semmelkren (bread, beef, and horseradish soup), bread soup, breadcrumb soup, or blunze (Austrian blood sausage).
To bread Wiener Schnitzel, breadcrumbs are used, which are traditionally made with kaiser rolls in Austrian bakeries.
The leberkässemmel is also made with a kaiser roll:
