For my version of the class Reueben sandwich, I decided to try something vegetarian. I started out by making some Pastrami Beets. These were amazing on their own, slice up thin, they can be eaten on their own or served in any kind of sandwich for a healthy pastrami, where double stuffed is encouraged. For the rest of the sandwich I kept it classic, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and just because I could, low fat Swiss cheese.
Make sure to use a good quality rye bread and you will have a vegetarian Reuben to rival all others.
Vegetarian Beet Pastrami Reuben
Servings
1 Servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 large beets
- 2 large slices fresh rye bread
- 1 tablespoon Russian dressing 1 part light mayo to 1 part ketchup mixed with chopped pickles
- pastrami beets sliced
- about 1/4 cup sauerkraut
- 1/4 cup reduced fat Swiss cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon butter
Instructions
- Prepare the pastrami beets:
- Combine all the spices in a medium bowl. Mix well. Peel the beets and place them each on their own tinfoil square (enough to fully cover them). Drizzle oil over each beat and then dip into the spices, rolling around to cover. Wrap up in the tinfoil and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour (can be overnight). Place beets on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven and bake for about 1 and 1/2 hours until beets are tender enough to slice.
- Slice beets thinly, best done with a mandolin. Set aside what you will use for your sandwich and save the rest for another time. These beets are great on their own or in a salad with goat cheese.
- Prepare the Vegetarian Reuben:
- Lay one slice of rye bread on the counter. Spread half the Russian dressing on top. Slowly layer the thin slices of beet pastrami over top of the bread. Then spread the sauerkraut and sprinkle the cheese, you can use slices if you find one that is cut thin. Spread the other slice of bread with the rest of the Russian dressing and place over the sandwich.
- Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium high heat. When hot add half the butter and then the sandwich. Cook until browned and then add the other half of butter and flip the sandwich. Bring temperature down to low and cook the other side until browned and the cheese is sufficiently melted.
- Cut in half and enjoy!!
- The pastrami beets are adapted from The Chubby Vegetarian.
Where can I buy smoked salt?
The sandwich is incredible. I used Emek lite swiss cheese and Walden Farms Thousand Island dressing. My sandwich topped out at 288 calories and I had it with a bowl of butternut squash soup.
It is actually surprisingly filling, we found that half of what you see in the picture was plenty. I served it with kale chips and I think a nice soup would be great too.
Is this sandwich very filling? What would you serve with it?