I’m always looking for new and interesting sandwich recipes so I was intrigued when I saw this twist on a roast beef sandwich. There’s lots of flavor going on here: sweet red peppers, tangy feta cheese, earthy cumin and cilantro, and a lemony tahini dressing.

For the bread, I used a pre-cut loaf of ciabatta bread which I thought would be easier to serve and eat. Next time, though, I’ll use a crusty loaf (like the recipe suggests) that will stand up to the tahini dressing better. I served the sandwiches right away instead of refrigerating them for several hours (they would’ve been mushy since I used softer bread). Enjoy!

Roast Beef, Red Pepper, Spinach, and Feta Sandwiches with Tahini Dressing
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Serve with minted iced tea and tabbouleh, then offer baklava and cherries for dessert.

Yield: Makes 8

1 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
1/3 cup chopped green onion
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1-pound loaf flat rustic bread such as focaccia or ciabatta, (about 2 1/2 inches high), cut horizontally in half
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 pound thinly sliced rare roast beef
2 cups (packed) baby spinach leaves

Mix first 6 ingredients and half of garlic in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt. Whisk remaining garlic, tahini, water, and lemon juice in small bowl to blend. Season tahini dressing to taste with salt. Place bread, cut side up, on work surface. Spread red pepper mixture over both cut sides of bread. Sprinkle cheese over bottom half of loaf. Layer half of roast beef over cheese; drizzle with 1/3 of tahini dressing. Layer remaining roast beef over dressing and drizzle with half of remaining dressing. Top with spinach leaves; drizzle with remaining dressing. Press top half of loaf onto spinach. Cut sandwich lengthwise in half, then crosswise into quarters for a total of 8 sandwiches. Wrap each sandwich tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

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Tags: ciabatta, cilantro, feta, lemon, roast beef, sandwich, spinach, tahini

I love this spicy, southwestern-inspired sandwich!  The toasted onion rolls are a creative foundation for the sandwich, while the chipotle mayonnaise adds heat and tons of flavor. I slathered a little chipotle mayo on the cut side of each bun half and used only 2 slices of cheese per sandwich, one on the bottom bun and one on the top bun. I had one sandwich leftover that I refrigerated and ate cold the next day…it was just as delicious as the hot version (just without the crunchy texture). I used my electric panini press to grill the sandwiches, but the recipe has instructions on how to cook them in a frying pan, too. Serve with a big salad or cut veggies.

Roast Beef and Two-Chile Grilled Cheese on Onion Rolls
-recipe from Sunset Magazine, July 2009

We love how spicy this sandwich is, but if you prefer less heat, cut back on the chipotle mayo and the green chiles.

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle chiles (about 4 small chiles)
4 onion rolls
About 2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 pound pepper jack cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 pound thinly sliced rare roast beef
4 canned mild green chiles, seeded, split, and dried with paper towels

Stir together mayonnaise and chipotles and set aside.

Preheat a panini press* to 350° (medium heat). Brush the outsides of rolls with oil. Split rolls. Spread bottom halves with 1 1/2 tsp. chipotle mayo each, then top each with 2 slices cheese; 2 or 3 slices roast beef; 1 chile, opened up flat; and 2 more slices cheese.

Spread top halves of rolls with 1 1/2 tsp. chipotle mayo each and place on tops of sandwiches. Grill sandwiches 2 at a time until crisp and bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining 2 sandwiches. Let sandwiches cool slightly, then slice with a serrated knife and serve.

*If you don’t have a panini press, use two pans to achieve the same effect: Cook your sandwiches in a frying pan or cast iron skillet and weight them with a heated cast iron skillet.

Tags: chipotle mayonnaise, green chiles, onion rolls, panini, pepperjack cheese, roast beef, sandwich