Beef on Weck, Part 1: Kummelweck Roll

Welcome to one of this country’s most delicious unknown sandwiches, the Beef on Weck. This simple but brilliant creation features thinly sliced, horseradish-covered roast beef piled high on a freshly baked kummelweck roll. The roll’s fragrant caraway seeds and coarse salt are a perfect accent, and when you add a steaming ramekin of fresh beef jus for dunking, you’ll understand why this is the pride of Western New York.

Original recipe makes 12 kummelweck rolls

Ingredients

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup warm water (105 degrees F/41 degrees C)
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon honey, or more to taste
Topping:
1 large egg white
2 teaspoons water
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds, or to taste
coarse sea salt to taste

  • PREP

    30 mins

  • COOK

    20 mins

  • READY IN

    2 hrs 20 mins

Directions

  1. Whisk 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup warm water, and yeast together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit until foamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. Stir 2 tablespoons oil, 1 egg white, sugar, salt, and honey into yeast mixture; whisk until smooth. Gradually add flour to yeast mixture while mixer is running with the dough hook attached; knead until a soft, sticky dough forms, 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Drizzle remaining vegetable oil into the bowl and turn dough to coat. Cover the bowl and let dough rise until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
  4. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
  5. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, flatten dough, and press into rectangle. Cut dough into 12 pieces and form pieces into rolls. Place rolls 2-inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  7. Whisk 1 egg white and 2 teaspoons water together in a small bowl. Use kitchen shears to cut an X at the top of each roll. Brush rolls with egg white mixture and sprinkle with caraway seeds and salt.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 159 kcal
Carbohydrates: 27.7 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Fat: 3.2 g
Fiber: 1.1 g
Protein: 4.3 g
Sodium: 328 mg