Pastrami Reuben Recipe
A classic, thinly sliced pastrami piled high rye bread
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Sandwich
Sauce
For grilling
Method
Sauce
- 1
Prepare dressing
In a small bowl, combine 3 tbs Russian dressing and 1 tsp Dijon mustard. Whisk briefly until smooth and uniform. Taste and adjust to taste (add up to 1/2 tsp more mustard if you like more tang). Set aside.
Sandwich assembly
- 2
Build sandwiches
Lay out 4 slices of rye bread on a work surface. Spread about 1 tbs of the prepared dressing evenly on each slice of bread (reserve the remaining dressing for serving). On each dressed slice, layer 4 oz (about 1/4 lb) thinly sliced pastrami, arranging it so the meat slightly overlaps and piles up evenly. Top the pastrami with 2 slices of Swiss cheese each. If using, place 1 dill pickle slice between meat and cheese or on top of the cheese according to preference. Finish each sandwich with a second slice of rye bread.
Grilling
- 3
Butter and cook
Spread about 1/2 tbs softened butter on the outside face of each of the 4 assembled sandwiches (both top and bottom slices). Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. When the surface is hot, place sandwiches butter-side-down, then butter the top slices. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown and crisp. Carefully flip each sandwich and continue cooking another 3–4 minutes until the second side is golden and the Swiss cheese has melted and become gooey. If the bread is browning too quickly before the cheese melts, reduce heat to medium-low and cover the pan with a lid for 1–2 minutes to trap heat and help cheese melt.
- 4
Rest and slice
Remove sandwiches from the pan and let rest for 1 minute. Using a sharp knife, cut each sandwich diagonally in half. Serve immediately with any reserved dressing on the side for dipping and additional dill pickle slices if desired.
