Turkish Cheesesteak

Ingredients

This recipe replaces the traditional hoagie roll with simit, a sesame-covered bread commonly found in Turkish cuisine. The beef is seasoned with a blend of Turkish spices, including cumin and sumac, and the cheese used is Turkish beyaz peynir. We alse have the original recipe for Cheesesteak, so you can check it out.

• 500g (1 lb) beef sirloin, thinly sliced 500g (1 lb) beef sirloin, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp sumac 1 tsp sumac
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
• 200g (7 oz) Turkish beyaz peynir cheese, shredded 200g (7 oz) Turkish beyaz peynir cheese, shredded
• 4 simit breads 4 simit breads

Nutrition

• Calories: 550 kcal / 2300 KJ
• Fat: 35g (16g saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 25g (5g sugars)
• Protein: 38g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. 2.
   Add the sliced onions and peppers and cook until caramelized, about 10 minutes.
3. 3.
   Add the sliced beef to the skillet and season with cumin, sumac, salt, and pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
4. 4.
   Preheat the oven to 180C (350F).
5. 5.
   Cut the simit breads in half and place them on a baking sheet.
6. 6.
   Top each simit half with the beef and onion mixture, then sprinkle with shredded beyaz peynir cheese.
7. 7.
   Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. 8.
   Serve hot.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Simit bread — If you can't find simit, you can use any other type of bread that you prefer. Just make sure it's sturdy enough to hold the beef and cheese without falling apart.
• Beyaz peynir cheese — If you can't find beyaz peynir, you can use feta cheese as a substitute.

Tips & Tricks

• To make slicing the beef easier, place it in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before slicing.
• If you prefer a spicier cheesesteak, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef seasoning.
• For a more authentic Turkish experience, serve the cheesesteak with a side of pickled vegetables.

Serving advice

Serve the Istanbul Cheesesteak hot, straight out of the oven.

Presentation advice

For a more elegant presentation, you can sprinkle some chopped parsley or cilantro on top of the melted cheese.