Ahhhh....Beef Manhattans ..... or simply call it - Hoosier comfort food at its best!
I know.... it's an Indiana thing.
But I can't tell you how many of these I ate as a kid growing up in Indianapolis.
Never heard of it?
A Beef Manhattan is basically a roast beef sandwich, cut corner to corner with a big scoop of mashed potatoes in the middle, and then completely smothered in brown gravy.
Uh.....yum!?
Wikipedia even has an entry for it:
The dish was first served under the name "Beef Manhattan" in a now defunct Indianapolis deli in the late 1940s where it gained traction as a Hoosier staple. In Indiana, it is served on bread. The roast beef is sliced and put on bread like a sandwich, then cut corner to corner and plated in a V shape. Mashed potatoes are served between the two halves, and the whole is covered in gravy.
Yumminess on a plate, that's what Beef Manhattans were, and a big part of my childhood.
Hmmm….I sense a recipe coming.
No Beef Manhattan
Yesterday as I was rummaging around in my fridge looking for something yummy to eat, I spied a container of my awesome Vegan Gravy, and some leftover mashed potatoes and I instantly thought of beef manhattans.
But now that I'm a brand new vegan - what would I use to replace the roast beef?
All I had to do was open up the freezer, and there it was. A bag of frozen vegetables, specifically another Hoosier favorite, a bag of peas, corn, and carrots.
I whipped those bad boys into the microwave, made myself a 'veggie sandwich', scooped in the mashed taters, and smothered the whole thing in gravy.
Bam.
I just created a No Beef Manhattan.
And it was AWESOME!!!
(Note: You can use any sandwich filling you like, not just veggies. My Meatlovers Seitan Metaloaf, for example, would be really good on a sandwich. Anything that tastes good covered in gravy will do. )
Warm, starchy, filling, and full of creamy gravy goodness. That's what I'm talking about. And I never missed the roast beef - at all.
This is a great recipe for using up leftovers, so give it a try.
You can find that recipe for my amazing Vegan Gravy right here!
You don't have to be from Indiana to enjoy it, but if you DO find yourself humming "Back Home Again in Indiana"….well……..Jim Nabors would be proud. 🙂
No Beef Manhattan
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: American
Description
A No Beef Manhattan is my version of an Indiana favorite. A veggie sandwich cut V-shaped, with a big scoop of potatoes in the center, smothered in gravy. Hoosier yumminess!
Ingredients
- 1 bag Frozen Vegetables (OR...)
- 2 slices Seitan Meatloaf ((optional))
- 2 slices Your Favorite Bread
- 1 scoop Mashed Potatoes
- 1 cup My Fat-Free Vegan Gravy recipe. ((recipe below))
Instructions
- Prepare your mashed potatoes
- Cook your frozen vegetables according to the instructions on bag
- Using the veggies, make a 'veggie sandwich'.
- Cut it corner to corner and separate.
- Scoop your mashed potatoes in between
- Smother the whole thing in gravy
Notes
Click Here For Fat Free Gravy Recipe
Click Here For Meat Lovers Seitan Meatloaf Recipe
Tips are always appreciated!
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Amanda
I worked in a restaurant in Central IL in high school and made plenty of Beef or Turkey Manhattans. My husband is thrilled to see this recipe!
Di
This brings back memories! I'm from Iowa and Mom and Grandma did something similar with leftovers when I was growing up, but it was one slice of bread with sliced roast beef, pork roast, chicken or turkey on it, then a generous scoop of mashed potatoes on top of that and then lots of gravy poured over all of it. It was a regular on our school lunch menu, too, in the 70s and 80s. We didn't call it a Manhattan, though, just a hot roast beef (or whatever kind of meat) sandwich. Around Thanksgiving, they might substitute stuffing/dressing for the mashed potatoes and call it a hot turkey and dressing sandwich.
Bette
In MN we called this a beef commercial.
Denise
I’ve never had one of these in a restaurant but have made them at home a few times. I didn’t even know they had a name! I ate them just because they were awfully good. Gosh, now I have something to call it other than “that kick a@& veggie sandwich I make“.
Susan Robinson
Living in Indianapolis, I've had hundreds of these !! This looks amazing and I'm trying it the week~~
Laurie Foral
One of the few beef dishes i truly miss. Used to love these and I was just thinking about how to veganize this a few days ago. Bam! Thanks, Chuck!
Tammy Travis
We live in West Virginia, and also enjoyed these type sandwiches. Most of the time with chicken.
Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman
I never knew this had a name! My mom is from the Midwest and we used to have it for dinner at least once a month.
Marlynn [UrbanBlissLife]
I've never heard of this dish before! That vegan gravy sounds delicious.
Catherine
I have definitely never heard of this, but it sounds like something my husband would love, haha! Maybe I'll make him a vegan version instead!