How to make a Philly Style Roast Pork Sandwich
One of the great joys in life is a Roast Pork Sandwich and Philadelphia is renowned for having one of the best pork sandwiches in the country! Unfortunately, that doesn’t hold true for many of the restaurants that serve them! I have had a lot of tasteless pork sandwiches where the owners just go through the motions because they feel they have it on their menu.
You know, it’s not rocket science people. Cooking a pork roast doesn’t have to be complicated! You rub it with brown mustard and hit it with an abundance of Montreal Beef Seasoning and you’ve got one of the most flavorful pieces of pork you could ever hope for. The secret really is all that great cracked black pepper in the Montreal seasoning.
Most of the restaurants and taverns that feature a Philly Style Pork sandwich offer it a couple of ways. You can get it straight up with just a slice or two of provolone on it, or you can get it Italian Style which to me is the true Philly Style Roast Pork Sandwich.
The Italian Style comes with broccoli rabe (or spinach) that has been sauteed in olive oil with a healthy amount of garlic, roasted red peppers, and aged provolone cheese…..sigh, its a wonderful thing. That is of course if they bother to season the pork and don’t just throw it in the oven!
And no self-respecting purveyor of roast pork would serve that glorious sandwich without a side of Italian Long Hot Peppers. Those are the peppers that let you know just how hot they are as soon as you start cooking them, these were no exception! I’m afraid my days of long hots are far behind me, but to be truly authentic you gotta have them!
Don’t forget to pick up some good kaiser rolls for this sandwich, and your choice of provolone. I used regular provolone, Lisa just isn’t a fan of the aged provolone, it’s a bit too sharp for her. Of course, I would have used them both on my sandwich, I do love cheese!
This is definitely a sandwich worth making, your friends and family will absolutely love you for making it! It’s also a great way to have some fast food in your freezer. There is just the two of us at home, so when I make this type of roast pork I freeze what we don’t eat into portions that we can reheat for dinner another night.
I also keep extra Kaiser rolls in the freezer and you know you can always find a large variety of cheese in my fridge, and provolone is usually one of them! So dinner on a hectic night just got easier!
If you’re a sandwich lover you’re going to love these recipes:
- Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Sweet Sausage Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Philly Style Roast Pork Sandwich
Ingredients
Roast Pork
- 4 lbs pork loin roast
- ¼ cup brown mustard
- 4 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning*
- 1 lb sliced Provolone aged or regular
- 12 Kaiser rolls or the roll of your choice
Broccoli Rabe
- 1 head broccoli rabe
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic diced
Roasted Red Peppers and Long hots
- 2 large red peppers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- sea salt and pepper to season
Make Your Own Montreal Steak Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon granulated onion
- 1 tablespoon crushed coriander
- 1 tablespoon dill
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
Pork Roast
- Coat top side of pork roast with brown or deli mustard, rub into meat.
- Sprinkle a liberal amount of Montreal Steak Seasoning over the mustard, covering the top completely.
- Place meat in 350 F degree oven (177 C), add a little water to the bottom of the pan and roast the pork loin for about two hours or until a meat thermometer reads 150 F (66 C) degrees. (the temp will rise 10 degrees as it sits)
- After the Pork has cooled completely cut it into thin slices to re-heat in the au jus.
- Add some water to all of the meat drippings and use this as your base for the pork au jus.
Broccoli Rabe
- Wash and trim the broccoli rabe removing any bad leaves and cutting off the stems, leaving only the leaves and flowers.
- Place the broccoli rabe into a pan with water and allow to boil until the broccoli rabe is tender. (do not use a full pot of water, use just enough to cook)
- Drain Broccoli rabe and saute in olive oil with chopped garlic, sea salt and pepper to taste.
Roasted Red Peppers and Long Hots
- Wash peppers, and cut down the center removing all the seed and membranes.
- Slice the red peppers about ⅜ of an inch thick (1 cm)
- Coat with olive oil and season with sea salt and black pepper
- Roast in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes
- Keep the peppers separate during the process, otherwise the long hots will make everything hot!
Make Your Own Montreal Beef Seasoning
- Combine paprika, crushed black pepper, kosher salt, granulated garlic, granulated onion, crushed coriander, dill, and crushed red pepper flakes, mix well.
Assembly
- Reheat the sliced pork in the au jus you saved from the pan
- place slices of roast pork on kaiser roll, add provolone, broccoli rabe and roasted red peppers.
- serve with extra au jus and long hots!
TammeyB says
This was absolutely perfect!! This meat was tender and flavorful and the peppers were phenomenal!! Definitely dip it in the extra au jus. Overall fantastic and economical meal. I will make again.
Ron Palmquist says
Yum
Gloria says
I am still laughing about the salad comment, and with that…… The Tiramisu is in the refrigerator chilling, I had to make it. The marscapone mixture is heaven. I am so glad that I stumbled onto your site, the recipes are meraviglioso!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m very happy you stumbled upon my site as well Gloria and thank you for trying my recipes and leaving your feedback, I truly appreciate your comments!
Doug MacMillan says
Do you cook the pork with a lid on the roasting pan
Chef Dennis Littley says
hi Doug
no lid on the pork.
Gloria says
It is a delicious way to have the pork, it really was such a nice variation. Florida sounds wonderful at this time of year and what better way to enjoy than with great food.
Ok, now I tried your Biscotti recipe, I think I have to stay away from your website as it is dangerously good! My husband is not a fan of biscotti, especially anything with fruit, so I changed the nuts to almonds and added chocolate chunks, he ate the whole batch. The original recipe I enjoyed myself , they were not too hard, had a wonderful taste, one of the best Biscotti’s I have had.
I have to pace myself visiting this site, its a vision of lovely delights!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Those are my favorite biscotti Gloria and you reminded me I haven’t made them in awhile! I do have some salads too…lol!
Gloria says
Dear Chef Dennis:
I made your recipe for the Philly style roast pork sandwich, it was beyond wonderful! My husband kept going to the kitchen and smelling the aroma, he was going insane . We really enjoyed your recipe and thank you for sharing this with everyone. I had one question, I used a bone in loin roast, it was hard to slice into thin slices, would you recommend a boneless roast? I was afraid of loosing moisture to the meat without the bone.
I was raised in Philadelphia and I never had one of these sandwiches, I truly miss the area , thank you again for sharing the recipe it brought the comforts of Philadelphia to my home.
Ciao
Chef Dennis Littley says
It is such a delicious way to make Pork Gloria, I can’t wait to cook up another batch now that I’m in Florida! Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed it and yes I would try a pork loin roast that was boneless.
Dan says
It’s better (and more authentic) to use pork shoulder. The loin’s a bit devoid of porky fat and flavor.
Andrew Vargo says
I just pulled my pork out of the oven after 1 hour 5 minutes of cooking. I think that 2 hours is an overstatement but just go by your thermometer. It wasnt quite done but warming it up in the jus brought it to temp.
Chef Dennis says
thanks Andrew, everyone’s oven is a little different too, and it depends on the size of your pork roast. But like you said using a thermometer is the best way to go.
Keeley @ My Life on a Plate says
This is my favorite sandwich, ever. I never thought to season it with brown mustard… I’ll have to try it your way! I’m not normally a fan of a strong mustard flavor, but it’s probably good with the Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Kim Bee says
I really need to make this. Like soon. Like really soon. Like now.
Kristi Rimkus says
What a completely people pleasing meal. Thank you for adding a recipe for making your own seasoning mix. I’m making mixes like this for Christmas gifts this year. I’ll add yours to the list and be sure to put your name and recipe with it. I hope that’s okay. 🙂
Chef D says
what a great idea of giving seasoning mixes for Christmas! and of course its okay to mention me!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
I´ve recently discovered slow roasted spiced pork and can´t think of any other way or cooking it to make it so flavorful. This sandwich is just fantastic, with mustard and provolone (a great cheese with any meat)!
mangiabella says
Chef! It feels like 100 years since I’ve been able to comment on posts, but at last I have found myself in a moment of fewer than usual interruptions, and must say this looks fantastic…it is italian style all for me. I also have to tell you how much you had me laughing at your “Lord of the Blossoms” reference…you are a crack up. I sure have missed posting on your blog and am sending you BIG BIRTHDAY WISHES today…may the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, and give you peace.
Chef D says
Thank you Jamie! I feel the same way, its so hard to find time visit and leave comments, life just seems out of control most days…..sigh
I’m so thankful to have friends like you in my life, blogging has been a blessing.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
The sandwich looks fantastic, Chef! I will take mine with all the veggies and with extra garlic! 🙂
Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen says
Excellent pulled pork and good idea to freeze the excess. I’ll be trying the Montreal seasoning.
kita says
Now that’s a sandwich! A damn good looking one too. I love the peppers and the roll. Now I need to make me one.
Helene Jolley says
I live in Philly and have had the award-winning ones, as well as many other Philly pork sandwiches, and I totally vouch for your version. It looks like i just got it from DiNic’s in the Reading Terminal or John’s on Weccacoe Street and that’s heavy praise, but you earned it!
Chef D says
Thanks Helene, I’ve learned from some of the masters in the area of how to do it right!