Ahh, the Reuben sandwich. The German's concoction that has 1000 Island Dressing, Corn Beef, Swiss Cheese, and Sauerkraut all on Rye Bread. I have to admit, I gagged a little when I typed Sauerkraut. I have mixed feelings about this sandwich. I love the Corn beef and Swiss Cheese but everything else can go out the window. And did you know how Sauerkraut is made? Well when I was buying it at the grocery store, my hubby informed me of how it is made. Apparently, it's pickled cabbage after it is pickled they bury it. BURY IT! For two months in the darkest, dirtiest environment they can find. Now... who wants Sauerkraut?
So, I told hubby I'd make him a Reuben and everything that entails but I wouldn't eat it. I made him a traditional Reuben and made myself something else. So here are two recipes; one for the Reuben lover and the other for the Corned Beef lover... so to speak. For the Corned Beef, Adam and I chose to buy a brisket and than cut it into slices. At the deli, it was $7 a pound for some sliced Corned Beef. In the meat section, the Corned Beef Brisket was only 3 something a pound so we got 2.5 pounds of corned beef for $7. So much better than at the deli. Sure it took some more time but it was way better in the end.
I cooked it in a crock pot for 10 hours. I just covered it with water and than put the season packet it came with over it. It drove the dog nuts, poor thing. There are lots of different recipes out there on the net. Some involved adding orange juice instead of water or onion soup packet instead of the season packet it comes with. It's really your choice but my advice is to make it from scratch instead of getting it from the deli. So much cheaper and better flavor.
And lots of leftovers! Mmmm...
Grilled Reuben SandwichIngredients:
1000 Island Dressing
Corned Beef
Rye Bread
Swiss Cheese
Sauerkraut
Butter
1. Spread 1000 island dressing on one side of the bread and butter on the other. But the bread butter side down in a medium heated skillet. Than add the Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, corned beef, and than another slice of cheese. Finally add the second slice of bread with 1000 island dressing on one side and butter on the other.
2. Cook your Reuben just like you would a grilled cheese. Press down with a spatula until crispy and than flip over. Repeat with second side and than your done.
So there you have it, a little spin on a traditional Reuben. But like I said... that's not for me. I wanted to post a picture of the bread that we got, for both sandwiches so here they are. The Rye and then the white Italian Bread. The Rye is from Kroger and the white is from Super Walmart.
So here we go and a step-by-step procedure too. Adam couldn't come home for lunch today so I couldn't do one for the traditional Reuben but I promise, it's the exact same except for the ingredients.
Grilled Corn Beef SandwichIngredients:
Italian Sliced Bread (or your sandwich bread of preference)
Corned Beef
Swiss cheese (from Krogers)
Butter
1. First I placed my bread butter side down in a medium heat pan. I chose medium because I meat was cold from last night so I wanted it to heat up. If it was on Medium-High the bread would have toasted quicker without heating the meat that well.
2. I placed a slice of Swiss Cheese, the corned beef, and than another slice of cheese onto my bread while in the pan. Finally top it off with another slice of bread with butter on the outside of it.
If I were to add 1000 Island dressing to this, I would put it after the slice of cheese so it doesn't effect the cheese holding the sandwich together.
3. Flip the sandwich when the side is crispy and light brown. Like this:
If you have been pressing the sandwich down with a spatula while it was cooking, you shouldn't have any problem flipping it over because the cheese will help hold it together. No cook the other side till it is also golden brown and than remove from pan.
The finished product? Well of course I took a picture of it.
Amazing right! Yea, it is. Adam wants me to make him another Reuben soon... maybe tonight or tomorrow. So I'll post a picture of that when I do. We are also make Bangers and Mash this week, Broccoli Casserole, and homemade pizza. Great food week. As a side note, I like to serve this with a tall glass of homemade Lemonade. If anyone wants the recipe for that, send me a message. :)
Look, a virtual glass just for you! Enjoy!