Pssst... Want to play confuse the deli guy? Okay, here's what you do. Walk up to your grocery store’s cold-cuts counter and ask for a pound of Chipped Ham. Unless a member of the deli’s staff is from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, chances are he won’t have a clue what you’re talking about.
Chipped Chopped Ham is unique to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as my husband and I discovered after moving to New York City decades ago--and watching deli guys blink in total confusion whenever we tried to order a sandwich with it.
The whole thing began with a chain of regional stores called Isaly's, a name you might remember as the original producer of the famous Klondike ice cream bar.
"Boston has its Baked Beans. Philly has its Cheesesteaks. Pittsburgh, Ohio, West Virginia and surrounds? We have Isaly’s Original Chipped Chopped Ham."
A Note from Cleo
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Cleo Coyle, cheap eats enthusiast, is author of |
With retro food as popular as ever, I thought it might be time to take a chance anddecode the mystery of chipped ham for a wider foodie public. And so...
For this post, I am going to show you how to create thatspecial sandwich from "someplace special" (what we Pittsburghers call our Three Rivers city).
TheBBQ Chipped Ham Sandwichwas one of the most popular lunches served in Pittsburgh's school cafeterias when my husband and I were growing up. It was theretro sandwich of our youth. It was also delicious, easy, and cheap. In fact, cheap is the point!
The "chipping" of deli ham is a great wayto make a less expensive brand of ham more tasty. There’s a good reason why it does, too, just keep reading...
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To download this recipe in a free PDF
that you can print, save, or share,
click here or on the image below...
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| Click here for the free PDF. |
Cleo Coyle'sPittsburgh-Style
BBQ Chipped HamSandwich
Makes 4 Sandwiches
Ingredients: ½ cup (8 tablespoons) ketchup ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) BBQ sauce 4 soft hamburger buns (optional garnish) Relish, sweet or dill
1 pound of "Chipped Ham"
(Below, you'll learn how to order this at any deli.)
Step 1: Order the Ham - Although the original "chip chopped" ham was made with pressed ham, you can order up any ham at your deli for this sandwich. Note: Even if you usually order the more expensive black forest or baked Virginia ham, don't be afraid to try the less expensive or "on sale" hams for this sandwich. Here's how to do it...
Directions:
Simply tell your deli person to shave the ham razor thin. Tell him (or her) not to be afraid to allow the ham to break up into pieces. The deli person is actually "chipping" the meat against the commercial meat slicer blade. Here’s what it should look like...
By shaving (chipping) the meat very thin, the ham is more tender and has more flavor than if it were sliced more thickly. In Western PA, Northern West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio (aka the Ohio Valley), this slicing process is known as "Pittsburgh Style."
Step 2: Make the Frizzle Fry- When you get the chipped ham home, you’re ready to create your “frizzle fry” sandwich.(Okay, from here on, it's stupidly easy. But if you never made a hot dog before, I suppose you'd need directions, right? So here goes...)
A. Heat the Chipped Ham: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Break the ham up into the pan and stir until heated through.
B. Make your Quickie Sauce:Mix the ketchup and (your favorite) BBQ sauce in a small bowl and add to the skillet. (Some people add a little mustard at this stage. We don't, but it's an option, depending on your taste.)
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| Quick tip: The new "Simply Heinz" ketchup is quite good. I just discovered it, and I'm hooked. No corn syrup. Huzzah! You can really taste the difference. I also like Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, but you can use any BBQ sauce for this recipe. |
C. Combine Ham and Sauce: Stir and cook for a few more minutes. The chipped ham should be evenly coated with the ketchup-BBQ sauce. The ham should be steaming and sticky. D. Pile it high: Divide the ham up onto the four hamburger buns. Garnish: My husband eats this simple sandwich with no other garnish. Many people in Pittsburgh, however, enjoy adding sweet relish. I really enjoy it with relish—but I prefer dill relish. So add what you like and…
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To download this recipe in a free PDF
that you can print, save or share,click here.
* * * *
The sandwich in this blog post was mentioned in
Cleo Coyle's culinary mysteryOnce Upon a Grind
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* * * *
A fairy tale murder
in Central Park...
Join coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi as she solves
the crime against "Sleeping Beauty," opens
secret doors (uptown and down), and investigates
a cold case that's been unsolved since the Cold War.
*
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Once Upon a Grind Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews “A Best Book of the Year Pick”
by Cleo Coyle
Fresh Pick! ~ Fresh Fiction
~ Kings River Life Magazine
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Delicious recipes are also featured
inOnce Upon a Grind. To download
the Free Recipe Guide,click here
or on the image below...
See Once Upon a Grind's
Recipe Guide byclicking here.
*
Delicious recipes are also featured
inOnce Upon a Grind. To download
the Free Recipe Guide,click here
or on the image below...
 |
See Once Upon a Grind's Recipe Guide byclicking here. |
