The Classic Sauce That Makes Roast Beef Sandwiches Even Better

A good roast beef sandwich has some sauce to balance out dry bread or meat. People use everything to keep it moist, from mayonnaise to gravy (the ingredient that sets Italian beef sandwiches apart from other roast beef sandwiches). One of the best ways to take a roast beef sandwich to the next level, though, is to add some James River Barbecue Sauce. It's a vinegary, tomato-based type of barbecue sauce made with vinegar, brown sugar, paprika, mustard flour, tamarind extract, and smoke flavoring. The flavor is tangy, peppery, and slightly sweet. It has a texture that's smooth and spreadable — it mixes well with mayonnaise and cheese — but thick enough to stick to the meat. James River barbecue sauce is also bold, so it matches the rich flavors of meat, cheese, and other toppings that usually come on a roast beef sandwich.

James River is a regional barbecue sauce you'll mostly find on the East Coast of the U.S. It was created in the early 1950's at Smithfield Packing Company in Smithfield, Virginia, and it's still generally sold as Smithfield James River Barbecue Sauce in stores and online. James River Barbecue Sauce became the signature condiment on a sandwich made famous by Kelly's Roast Beef on Revere Beach in Massachusetts. The sandwich is known as the North Shore 3-Way roast beef sandwich and it's an easy meal that'll take you straight to the beaches of Massachusetts.

James River Barbecue Sauce is one of the toppings used in making the North Shore 3-Way roast beef sandwich, but the meat is another cornerstone. This East Coast fast-food-style sandwich starts with thin-sliced, rare-to-medium-rare roast beef on an onion roll or sesame seed bun. The roast beef is piled high, and then the three toppings are added that give the sandwich its name: white American cheese, extra-heavy mayonnaise like Cain's brand, and a drenching dose of James River Barbecue Sauce.

Don't limit James River Barbecue Sauce to just making a North Shore 3-Way roast beef sandwich. This sauce adds a tangy-rather-than-sweet vibe to a classic hot roast beef sandwich. It works well with plenty of extra toppings, too. After all, making a plain sandwich is the roast beef sandwich mistake to avoid at all costs. For an extra bit of zest, one roast beef sandwich lover on Reddit suggested adding pickled onions. Creamy horseradish sauce creates an interesting note of spice. Caramelized onions add a savory aspect to the sandwich and fresh vegetables, like crispy lettuce leaves and tomato slices, will add more texture and flavor.