Sandwich Solution: Reuben or Rachel Sandwich (2024)

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Diana Rattray

Sandwich Solution: Reuben or Rachel Sandwich (1)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 07/28/21

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Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 5 mins

Total: 10 mins

Servings: 2 servings

Yield: 2 sandwiches

19 ratings

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The origin of the Reuben sandwich is not clear, but it is thought that itwas createdaround 1914 by Arnold Reuben, who was the owner of Reuben's Restaurant in NYC. Others have claimed that the sandwich was created by Nebraska grocer, Reuben Kolakofsky. The Reuben is a grilled sandwich traditionally made on rye bread with a filling of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.

The Rachel sandwich is one of several variations on the famous sandwich. Instead of the classic corned beef and sauerkraut, the Rachel is usually made with turkey or pastrami and coleslaw. Both sandwiches are made with Swiss cheese and rye bread.

Serve a Reuben or Rachel sandwich with sour pickles and potato chips or potato salad.

Ingredients

For the Reuben Sandwich:

For the Rachel Sandwich:

  • 2 slices rye bread

  • 2 tablespoons Russian dressing

  • 1/4 cup coleslaw

  • 1/4 pound turkey, thinly sliced, or pastrami

  • 2 to 3 slices Swiss cheese

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

Steps to Make It

The Reuben

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place the sliced rye bread on the countertop; spread about 1 tablespoon of Russian dressing over each slice.

  3. Top one of the slices of bread with the corned beef, and Swiss cheese.

  4. Drain the sauerkraut in a colander; squeeze out any excess moisture. Pile the sauerkraut on the cheese layer and then top with the other slice of bread (Russian dressing side down).

  5. Spread the softened butter over the top and bottom of the sandwich.

  6. Place a heavy skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Add the sandwich and cook until the bottom is golden brown. Carefully turn it over and cook until the other side hasbrowned and the cheese has melted.

The Rachel

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Spread each slice of rye bread with the Russian dressing.

  3. Put the coleslaw in a colander to drain off excess liquids.

  4. Top a slice of bread with the turkey or pastrami and Swiss cheese.

  5. Spread the coleslaw over the cheese layer and then top with the remaining slice of bread.

  6. Spread the softened butter over thetop and bottom of the sandwich.

  7. Place a heavy skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Place the sandwich on the hot pan and cook until the bottom has browned. Carefully turn it over and cook until the other side has browned and the cheese has melted.

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the Russian dressing with Thousand Island dressing.
  • Replace the Russian dressing with a combination of 1 tablespoon of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, and 1 teaspoon of dill pickle relish.
  • Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of caraway seeds over the sauerkraut on the Reuben sandwich.
  • Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of celery seeds over the coleslaw in the Rachel sandwich.
  • Replace the Swiss cheese with Muenster, Emmental, or Gruyere cheese. Or use your favorite melty cheese.
  • Southern Dinner Recipes
  • Sandwiches
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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
947Calories
65g Fat
36g Carbs
54g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories947
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 65g83%
Saturated Fat 29g144%
Cholesterol 228mg76%
Sodium 1586mg69%
Total Carbohydrate 36g13%
Dietary Fiber 4g14%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 54g
Vitamin C 9mg46%
Calcium 815mg63%
Iron 4mg20%
Potassium 487mg10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • sandwich
  • reuben sandwich
  • lunch
  • american

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Sandwich Solution: Reuben or Rachel Sandwich (2024)

FAQs

What is a Rachel sandwich vs. Reuben sandwich? ›

Perhaps owing to its absence of an exact origin story, the Rachel is certainly more of a pliable sandwich than the classic Reuben as far as ingredients are concerned. The first major difference is that the Rachel swaps brisket-based corned beef for pastrami, which comes from a comparatively leaner cut of the cow.

What is a Rachel sandwich made of? ›

The Rachel sandwich is one of several variations on the famous sandwich. Instead of the classic corned beef and sauerkraut, the Rachel is usually made with turkey or pastrami and coleslaw. Both sandwiches are made with Swiss cheese and rye bread.

Where did the name turkey Rachel come from? ›

Rachel sandwich

In some parts of the United States, especially Michigan, this turkey variant is known as a "Georgia Reuben" or "California Reuben", and it may also call for barbecue sauce or French dressing instead of Russian dressing. The name may have originated from the 1871 song "Reuben and Rachel".

What's the difference between a Reuben and a corned beef sandwich? ›

A Reuben sandwich is made from corned beef and sauerkraut. The "Rachel" is similar but substitutes pastrami for the corned beef and coleslaw for the sauerkraut.

What is a redneck Reuben sandwich? ›

The Redneck Reuben Sandwich is the best BBQ sandwich on the planet! Pork, cheese, collard greens and Texas toast, what more could you need ...

What is Reuben meat called? ›

A Reuben is a grilled sandwich featuring corned beef on rye bread. The Reuben is a menu staple in Jewish-style delicatessens, but it's not technically kosher because it combines meat and cheese.

What is a Marilyn Monroe sandwich? ›

Grilled Thin Sliced Turkey and Pepperoni topped with Marinara Sauce and Melted Mozzarella Cheese on a grilled Ciabatta Bun.

What's the difference between a Reuben and a pastrami sandwich? ›

Corned beef is thickly cut to accompany cabbage and other boiled vegetables like turnips, potatoes and carrots, or it is sliced thick for Reubens. Pastrami is more thinly sliced and piled onto deli sandwiches, often on rye bread.

Why is the sandwich called a Reuben? ›

According to Omaha lore, the Reuben Sandwich was dreamed up at Omaha's Blackstone Hotel in 1925 by Reuben Kulakofsky, a local grocer, to feed a group of late-night poker players. Charles Schimmel, one of the players and the hotel's owner, liked it so much he put it on the menu of The Plush Horse, the hotel restaurant.

Is a Reuben Irish or German? ›

But the Reuben is a deeply early-20th-century American Midwestern creation, a Jewish sandwich that isn't kosher, made by an assimilated Eastern European whose family left Russia, Poland, and Germany several generations before World War II.

Is a Reuben Thousand Island or Russian? ›

Sauce - A traditional Reuben sandwich uses creamy Russian dressing for the sauce, but Thousand Island dressing is another popular option that tastes really similar, albeit slightly sweeter with a bit less kick than Russian dressing.

Is a Reuben sandwich healthy? ›

About the Reuben

Unfortunately, this traditional sandwich is NOT one that I consider "heart healthy" as it provides approximately 800 calories, 50 grams fat, 20 grams of the artery-clogging saturated fat, 40 grams carbohydrates, 36 grams protein, and a whopping 3200 mg.

Is Arby's Reuben real corned beef? ›

About the Sandwich

Marbled rye bread filled with freshly sliced corned beef, melty Swiss Cheese, tangy sauerkraut and creamy Thousand Island dressing. This is a Reuben sandwich inspired by the New York standard.

What is a Texas Reuben? ›

“a deli classic reinvented for. south Texas tastes…”

This Texas Reuben features our own lean smoked brisket thrown over some buttered and griddled rye bread. Our sauerkraut is cooked in-house and not like what you usually imagine when it comes to this German staple.

Is pastrami just smoked corned beef? ›

The main difference between corned beef and pastrami is the way they're cut and processed. Plus, after cutting and curing, corned beef is boiled, whereas pastrami is smoked and steamed. Whether you have a taste for Corned Beef or Pastrami, you will find an expansive list of items on the Brent's Deli menu.

What is the difference between a Cuban and Reuben sandwich? ›

The Cuban sandwich is a classic of Cuban-American cuisine, featuring roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread, while the Reuben sandwich is an iconic American deli sandwich made with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and rye bread.

What is a Katz Reuben? ›

Your choice of pastrami, corned beef or turkey breast with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and homemade Russian dressing, all on grilled rye bread... Order Online.

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