Classic Reuben Sandwich

A Classic Reuben Sandwich recipe featuring rye bread slathered with our delicious homemade Russian or Thousand Island Dressing and topped with corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese and then cooked to golden brown crispy perfection!  It’s a real feast for the taste buds!

What is a Reuben Sandwich?

A Reuben sandwich features rye bread that is slathered with either Russian or Thousand Island dressing, topped with corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut, and then grilled until crispy and the cheese is melted.  It is considered a classic American deli sandwich enjoyed for many generations and is now also enjoyed in many parts of the world.

Where Did the Reuben Sandwich Originate?

New York City?  No.  Chicago?  Uh-uh.  Boston?  Try again.  The Reuben Sandwich is in fact home to none other than Omaha, Nebraska.  It’s exact origin is a subject of debate but it’s generally credited to a Lithuanian-born grocer in Omaha by the name of Reuben Kulakofsky in the 1920’s  The story goes that Reuben and his friends regularly played poker at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha and one night when they got hungry they scavenged the hotel kitchen for ingredients to make a sandwich.  How these poker-playing gamblers on the spur of the moment had the creative wherewithal to stack corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on slices of rye bread, drizzle it with Russian dressing and then grill it to crispy perfection is a mystery, but that is how the story goes.  And for all we know one those gamblers may have been an aspiring chef and foodie.

Another version of the story claims Reuben Kulakofsky was actually the chef of the Blackstone Hotel and that he was asked to prepare a sandwich for a poker game and name it after himself.  Not to put the rowdy poker bunch down, but the latter story sounds slightly more believable.

Whatever its origins, whoever created the Reuben sandwich deserves to go down in history as a culinary wiz because that combination of ingredients is nothing short of genius.

Russian Dressing or Thousand Island Dressing?

If you’ve looked around at Reuben sandwich recipes you’ve probably noticed that some use Russian dressing while others use Thousand Island dressing.  Which one is correct?  The answer is both.  In years past Russian dressing was the sauce of choice for Reuben sandwiches but in recent decades Thousand Island dressing has largely come to supplant Russian.  Thousand Island dressing is sweeter and contains the characteristic chunks of sweet pickle relish, adding both sweetness and a crunchy texture, whereas Russian dressing is smoother (traditionally no pickle relish) and is spicy and zestier because it contains horseradish and Worcestershire sauce.  There’s no right or wrong, it’s purely a matter of personal preference.  Whichever one you choose I very strongly recommend homemade for the very best flavor (I include recipe links).

What to Serve with Reuben Sandwiches

Reuben sandwiches are quite hearty on their own but if you’d like to add more bulk to the meal, here are a few great options:

• Chips
• Pickles
• French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
• Onion Rings
• Soup:  such as a simple Tomato Soup or a creamy broccoli soup
• Creamy Coleslaw
• Potato Salad
• Mixed Green Salad

Reuben Sandwich Recipe

Let’s get started!

To make Reuben sandwiches, along with quality rye bread you’ll need either Russian Dressing or Thousand Island Dressing.  As mentioned above, both are commonly used and it just comes down to personal preference whether you prefer spicy or sweet.  You’ll also need sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese.

Spread one side of each slice of bread with 1/2 tablespoon of butter. On the other side, spread one tablespoon of Russian or Thousand Island dressing (do this for every slice of bread). Top four of the slices of bread each with 1/4 pound corned beef, 1/4 cup of sauerkraut, and 2 slices of Swiss cheese. Top each sandwich with the other slice of bread, buttered sides facing out.

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until golden brown and crispy. Carefully flip the sandwiches over and cook the other side until golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted. If you’re unable to fit all the sandwiches in the skillet, keep the finished ones in a warmed oven.

Serve immediately while the sandwiches are warm and crispy.  See serving recommendations above for ideas on what to serve with your Reuben sandwiches.

Enjoy!

For more delicious sandwiches be sure to try our:

• • Porchetta Sandwich
  • Milanese Philly Cheesesteak
  • French Connection Sandwich