Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Carrie

I’ve been making these for decades, and I love them! I add a touch of horseradish to the sauce to give it some kick, and the sauce goes on at the end to avoid sogginess.

Laura

For anyone who misses the meat of a traditional Reuben or who just wants to enhance the umami component, sub out one of the Swiss cheese slices for a slice of smoked cheese. Same basic sandwich with a bit of a twist. Delicious.

Mallory

We’ve been making these sandwiches for years (w/o this recipe). My favorite addition is a summertime heirloom tomato. It brings some real substance to the sandwich and complements the flavors nicely.

Judy H-M

This was a great idea for those who enjoy Ruben sandwiches, but who are reducing their meat consumption. We have thoroughly enjoyed these sandwiches.

Bob in Tennessee

I'd get some mushrooms in there as a meat sub, maybe a bit of smoked paprika in the sauce.

Wallace

My version is Reuben-esque: smoked cheddar, and coleslaw instead of sauerkraut. It’s a different thing but I dig it.

Susan Brink o’Flaherty

Make it vegan with Violife slices (provolone melts beautifully) or another vegan cheese substitute.

Jane

Unreal deli makes a delicious vegan corned beef! I use Violife provolone like Susan. And a Reuben with coleslaw instead of kraut is typically called a Rachel...

tikcug

uh, isn't this just a swiss cheese sandwich on rye? sacrilegious to call it a reuben without a meaty substitute for the corned beef in the original, such as seitan, tempeh etc.

Patty

You can’t go wrong using Siracha for the hot sauce and adding a slice of roasted red beet in place of the corned beef. A delicious sandwich.

Chris O.

I've used either harissa roasted carrots or roasted beets to sub for meat in this Rueben sandwich. New favorite sandwich at our house.

Cesaera

We make these at home all the time using Tofurkey brand hickory smoked turkey slices, so that there is some kind of other item inside of the sandwich. We also tend to use a refrigerated brand of thousand island dressing rather than making it from scratch.

AmyY

Love this. Sometimes I'll sauté thinly sliced mushrooms with coriander, pepper, and dry mustard or mustard seeds and add those. Great without, but a really hearty and tasty addition.

JDesai

Marinate some tempeh slices in liquid smoke, soy sauce, and a hint of brown sugar and then saute. Slip this into the sandwich for a satisfying mouthfeel, protein, and umami bomb. This is on steady rotation in our veggie home.

Neva

I thought this was delicious. I only had baby Swiss and slices of French bread and I did not cover the pan during browning of the bread - I was afraid that would take away from crispness of the bread. But otherwise, followed as presented. Delicious!

Steve

For a meal with a little more substance, I enjoy adding pickled beets before grilling. I heat them first to ensure they are warm throughout.

Leslie

I love this recipe. I never thought I would like it as much as I do. I often don’t cook recipes to a T, however this one I’ve made over a dozen times and always cook it exactly as directed. You will not miss the meat in this. I am not vegetarian, and I may make it with added blackened salmon next. I think that the steps taken in this are what is successful. I love it

KC

I make a similar sandwich with tempeh. I just slice the tempeh into 4 pieces and then slice those 4 pieces in half while laying them flat. I put those slices in tamari for a couple of minutes. Then cook them in olive oil in a pan. I either have those with sauerkraut and mustard or home made coleslaw and ketchup and mayonnaise.

Sue Hagar

Notes are helpful, especially the addition of tempeh. I specifically sought out a vegetarian version of a Rueben because one of our favorite brew pubs makes this with tempeh and it’s fabulous, so we want to see how close we can come to recreating.

Me

Add steamed broccoli and sliced cooked beets

Professor Doom

I'm not sure I would call this a Reuben. I use sliced yellow squash and zucchini, a red pepper slice, and thin tomato slices as filling. Much better

Jason

I make this all the time but sub out the corned beef with bacon or brisket and instead of sauerkraut I use ham.

knittysixx

I’ve never eaten a meat Reuben, but this was super yummy

Laurie M

I added pastrami for my meateaters it was the talk of New Year’s Day

Evelyn Pearl

Love, love, love this sandwich! I made this recipe as written the first time, the second time adding a few slices of Tofurkey at my husband’s request. I am more of a purist, but I’ll take it either way. I will note the rye bread you choose is extremely important. I went out of my way to make sure I bought one from a local bakery instead of the soft, spongy rye you find in the bread aisle at the grocery store.

katie j

these sandwiches are soooo good! i made them yesterday and again today but now i'm out of swiss cheese. today i added a fried egg to make it more breakfast-y and i am so happy from eating that i'm writing a review about it. ;)

Emil Espinosa

Substitute man check cheese. Sub red onions.

Annie

As long as we’re riffing on a classic, we throw a thick, homemade potato latke in there and mix kimchi into the sauerkraut. Swiss is of course traditional, but you can’t beat something really melty.

Even Better than a Traditional Rueben!

This.is.the.bomb!!!

aurora

I love this - I added thinly sliced raw beets to add more texture and a lot of hot sauce

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Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep a Reuben from getting soggy? ›

Be sure to drain off as much liquid as possible from the sauerkraut before piling it onto your Reuben sandwich to prevent any sogginess. It's also best to serve Reubens soon after griddling to keep the toasted bread nice and crisp.

Should a Reuben be pressed or toasted? ›

The Best Method for Making Reuben Sandwiches at Home

We have a grilled-cheese philosophy here at Serious Eats, which is that both sides of each slice of bread should be toasted to maximize the crunch against the soft melted cheese. In some cases, this rule works for melts, which is what a Reuben technically is.

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

Both feature corned beef and sauerkraut on rye bread, but where a corned beef sandwich keeps it simple with mustard and relish, the reuben takes things an extra step further by adding Russian dressing and melty cheese.

What is a Reuben without sauerkraut called? ›

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.

What is a good substitute for Reuben cheese? ›

Provolone is just about the only other cheese I think would taste acceptable on a reuben. Apparently there is a dip recipe called Reuben dip that uses both cheddar and Swiss.

Are Reubens supposed to be hot or cold? ›

A Reuben can be served cold, but it's far better when it is served hot like the recipe calls for. The melted cheese blends all the ingredients together for a messy and delightful sandwich.

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.

What's the difference between a Reuben and a Rachel 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 good substitute for rye bread for Reubens? ›

It is a good alternative if you like the flavor of rye bread but want something a little different. White bread: If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use white bread for your Reuben sandwich. While it doesn't have the same flavor as rye bread, it still makes a tasty sandwich.

What kind of bread does Arby's use on their Reuben 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 staple in delicatessens throughout the country, a typical Reuben includes pastrami and vinegar-y sauerkraut on some rye bread. We knew that we could do better, and decided to experiment one weekend with our menu. This Texas Reuben features our own lean smoked brisket thrown over some buttered and griddled rye bread.

Why is it called a Rachel sandwich? ›

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".

Are reubens better with pastrami or corned beef? ›

Is a Reuben Better with Corned Beef or Pastrami? Whether a Reuben sandwich is better with corned beef or pastrami comes down to personal taste. Reuben sandwiches are made with either sliced corned beef or pastrami.

What is vegetarian corned beef made of? ›

Ingredients for Corned Beef Seitan

Extra-firm tofu: This seitan is a blend of proteins from tofu and vital wheat gluten. Adding tofu lends a superior texture to the deli meat (in my opinion), since pure seitan can be quite dry and rubbery on its own. Tofu makes it a little more tender.

What is a good substitute for corned beef on a Reuben sandwich? ›

5 Vegetarian Reubens Even Corned Beef Fans Will Love
  • Pastrami-spiced tempeh Reuben at DGS Delicatessen. 1317 Connecticut Ave., NW. ...
  • Smoked beet Reuben at Family Meal Ashburn. 20470 Exchange St., Ashburn. ...
  • Portobello Reuben at Ris. 2275 L St., NW. ...
  • Vegan “tofu Reuby” at the Randy Radish. ...
  • Grilled veggie Reuben at Corned Beef King.
Mar 3, 2015

What are Reubens made of? ›

A traditional reuben sandwich consists of thinly sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on rye bread slathered with Russian or Thousand Island dressing.

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.

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