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broccoli reuben
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Broccoli Reuben

A broccoli Reuben is one of the best vegetarian reubens you can make. It uses charred broccoli florets in lieu of traditional corned beef.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time22 minutes
Course: Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Reuben, vegetarian reuben
Servings: 2

Equipment

  • cutting board and knife
  • 2 cast iron skillet or frying pan
  • fine mesh seive
  • spatula, tongs

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 - 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 - 1 cup sauerkraut
  • 4 slices marble rye bread
  • 2½ Tablespoons softened butter
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese (ideally thinly sliced)
  • 1/4 cup Russian dressing
  • salt and pepper for seasoning

Instructions

  • Chop one head of broccoli into small broccoli florets to yield about 3 cups. Finely chop 2 - 3 cloves of garlic.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper for seasoning. Cook broccoli florets until they are softened and begin to char (about 15 - 20 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add garlic and continue cooking another 3 - 4 minutes. Transfer broccoli and garlic mixture to a plate, set aside and wipe the skillet to remove debris.
  • While broccoli is cooking, drain the sauerkraut with a fine mesh sieve. In another frying pan, melt ½ tablespoon of butter and add drained sauerkraut. Cook about 5 - 10 minutes on medium heat until sauerkraut is warmed through.
  • Butter 1 side of the 4 slices of marble rye bread. On the non-buttered side, spread about 1 tablespoon of Russian dressing. Place one slice of Swiss cheese over the Russian dressing.
  • In the cast iron skillet, place one slice of rye, buttered side down. Top with 1/2 of the charred broccoli and garlic to create a layer. Top with about 1 - 3 tablespoons of sauerkraut to cover the broccoli. Finally, top with a second slice of rye, with the buttered side facing up.
  • Grill the broccoli Reuben, pressing the sandwich with a spatula to flatten. until the bottom is golden brown and toasted, about 4 minutes. Then, carefully flip over and grill the other side. (Repeat the previous step and this step to make the second broccoli Reuben.)
  • Cut on a diagonal and serve immediately warm.