House Reuben Recipe

Combine dressing ingredients

In a medium bowl, add 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbs ketchup, 1 tsp prepared horseradish, 2 tbs sweet pickle relish, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp kosher salt and 1 tsp black pepper.

Whisk thoroughly until smooth and homogeneous. Taste and adjust seasoning — add more vinegar for tang, more horseradish for heat, or more relish for sweetness. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld (can be made up to 3 days ahead).

Drain the sauerkraut well: place sauerkraut in a fine mesh sieve and press with the back of a spoon or paper towel to remove excess liquid. This prevents a soggy sandwich.

If your corned beef is refrigerated and in large slices, stack and press slices thinly with a knife to achieve even layering. Have 6 oz of thinly sliced corned beef ready.

Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the house Russian dressing evenly on the inside of each rye bread slice (total about 3 tbs).

On one dressed slice, layer the swiss cheese so it covers bread surface. Top the cheese with the drained sauerkraut (about 1 cup spread evenly). Then pile the 6 oz thinly sliced corned beef over the sauerkraut, pressing gently to compact. Top with the second slice of rye, dressing-side down.

Lightly butter the outer faces of both bread slices with the softened unsalted butter (about 1 tsp per outer face). This helps achieve a golden crust when grilling.

Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-low to medium heat for 2 minutes. Place the sandwich in the skillet and cover with a lid or a large bowl to trap heat — this helps melt the swiss without over-browning the bread.

Grill for 3–4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown. Carefully flip the sandwich and grill the other side 3–4 minutes, pressing lightly with a spatula. Total grilling time will be about 6–8 minutes. If cheese is not fully melted, reduce heat slightly and cover again for 1–2 minutes.

Remove sandwich from skillet and let rest 1 minute. This lets juices settle and makes slicing cleaner.

Slice the sandwich diagonally in half. Serve immediately with an optional dill pickle spear and a side of potato chips or fries.

If desired, offer extra house Russian dressing on the side for dipping.