As already
noted, when something turns out to be incredibly popular, several people often
want to step in and take the credit for it. Funny that.
First up to
claim the title of Reuben Creator is Lithuanian grocer
Reuben
Kulakofsky, who is said to have invented it during a card game. His fellow
competitor Charles Schimmel then put the sandwich on his hotel menu and it
quickly shot to fame on account of its extreme deliciousness. Not having any of
that, though, is a guy by the name of Arthur Reuben, who founded Reuben’s
Delicatessen in New York. He is said to have cobbled the sandwich together when
an actress unexpectedly visited the deli requesting something substantial to
eat. A third claimant to the title was a dude named Fern Snider, who is said to
have entered it into a sandwich competition (and won).
Whatever the
origins, this is a world classic among sandwiches; a true belly-stretching
behemoth to be found in good Jewish delis, or… made at home using this recipe.
It’s a monster, packed with as much salt beef as you can handle, Swiss cheese,
sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, all on toasted rye.
Makes 1
INGREDIENTS
2 slices light rye bread
Butter, at room temperature
2 tbsp Thousand Island dressing
2 tbsp sauerkraut, well drained
2 slices good-quality Swiss or Gruyère
cheese
4–5 thick slices salt beef, with lovely
wobbly fatty bits if possible
Heat a frying pan. Spread both slices of bread
with butter on one side only. Place 1 of them, butter-side down, on the pan.
Spread 1 tablespoon of the Thousand Island dressing onto the dry side of the
bread. Make sure the sauerkraut is well drained, then add this to the slice of
bread, followed by the cheese and then the salt beef.
Spread
the remaining dressing on the dry side of the remaining slice of bread and add
it, dressing-side down, to the sandwich. Press down several times. Carefully
turn the sandwich over and weigh it down by placing a heavy pan on top. When
the sandwich has turned crisp and golden brown on the bottom, flip it back over
for 30 seconds or so, to make sure the other side is properly heated through.
Serve immediately.
