South Philly Gravy Recipes

SOUTH PHILLY GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot. I use the pot I'm going to cook the gravy in, like a stock pot.
• Brown the outside of the meat. Don't cook it all the way through.
• Meanwhile, mince the onions and the garlic. I mince them very fine since I don't really like onions all that much but love the flavor of an onion.
• Once the meat is browned, remove it. Toss in the onions and garlic and sautee until soft.
• Deglaze the pan with the red wine. This just adds another layer of flavor. In the meantime, open your tomatoes and crush the San Marzanos. Some people use a potato masher but I usually just use my hands. It saves time and dirties one less utensil.
• Add the tomatoes to the pot, the dried herbs and the tomato paste. Cook for up to six hours on very low. The herbs can be adjusted to taste. I learned to cook this in a much larger pot than you need so you don't have to use a lid. Covering the sauce/gravy makes it too thin since the condensation can't escape. If you must cover it make sure you vent the lid.
• Serve with your favorite pasta.

PHILADELPHIA STYLE ROAST PORK SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Remove the netting or strings on pork roast, keeping them intact to use again. Combine rosemary, 3 cloves of garlic, parsley, 3 teaspoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper in a bowl. Slice open the pork roast and spread it with the oil and herb mixture. Roll up the pork and secure it with the netting or string. Rub outside of the roast with remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the pork, fat side up, in a roasting pan or baking dish and pour in water. Bake in the preheated oven, basting occasionally, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours; add more water if necessary. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Allow the roast to rest 10 to 15 minutes. Reserve the pan juices.
• While the pork is resting, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Stir in 2 cloves chopped garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until garlic is fragrant but not brown, about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Add spinach, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and lemon juice. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally.
• Cut the string on the roast and cut the pork into thin slices. Return the sliced pork to the reserved pan juices.
• Slice the sandwich rolls and sprinkle each roll with shredded Manchego cheese. Add pork slices to each sandwich, top with spinach, and serve.

PHILLY (ITALIAN STYLE) HOT ROAST PORK SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place pork roast in a baking dish (I use a 9 x 13 inch glass pyrex dish).
• Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, basil, Italian seasoning and garlic flakes.
• Roast in oven for about 15 minutes or until juices start running and fat starts to melt and brown in the bottom of the pan, then add water to about 1/2 inch up the pan.
• Check every half hour or so and if water gets low, add a bit more to so it's about 1/2 inch up the pan every time.
• Each time you add the water, pour some over the roast, so the top does not get too dry.
• Roast until internal temperature reads 165-170 degrees (About an hour and a half TOTAL cooking time).
• Trim all visible fat from roast and discard.
• Slice roast very thin, in the pan if possible, so you don't lose any juices.
• If all goes well, the juices/gravy at the bottom of the pan should look golden brown, with darker flecks of spices, garlic and some little pieces of meat.
• Serve slices of pork on rolls, making sure that the slices have soaked up some of the juices (you can drizzle more juices on top, if you like, or you can thicken the gravy with water and cornstarch or flour, if desired).
• Enjoy!