Several people have disputed its authorship. There’s even a scene in the film Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford and nominated for four Oscars, in which two characters sit down to eat in a restaurant, one of them orders a Reuben Sandwich, and they start arguing about where it came from.
The Reuben sandwich is a classic that everyone enjoys, whether they are meat-eaters, vegetarians, or vegans. Everyone has created their own version of this delicacy.
We couldn’t do anything less, so this time we’re bringing you a vegetarian version of this American classic to try and enjoy at home. Bon Appetit!
Quick and Easy Version
How do you replace a sandwich with corned beef as the main ingredient in its most gluttonous and abundant version? It’s all about keeping the same spirit. It makes no difference whether it contains meat, turkey, or pastrami, as in its numerous carnivorous variants.
People have taken over this recipe and adapted it to suit their desires. We’ve created a vegetarian version that’s just as naughty as the original, and we’re confident it’ll measure up to all of your expectations.
Melt the butter in a frying pan. While the butter is melting, add a clove of finely chopped garlic, a cup of thickly sliced mushrooms, and the finely sliced cooked artichoke.
Cook quickly while stirring. Keep in mind that artichokes and mushrooms cook fast. While the ingredients are sautéing, add the soy sauce, salt, pepper, and cumin. Remove from heat after a few more stirs.
Brown the bread slices in the same pan you fried the filling in. While the bread is browning, rub it against the pan to absorb all the flavor.
Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, mustard, and two tablespoons of orange juice in a jar. You can season with salt and pepper to taste. Then, close the jar and vigorously shake it until all of the ingredients are well blended.
Spread the sauce on both slices of bread and assemble the sandwich. Place the two slices of cheese on top, followed by the artichoke mushroom filling. Then it’s the sauerkraut’s turn. Close the sandwich.
There are three possible origin stories for the Reuben Sandwich. One of them proclaims the son of Charles Schimmel as the author and dates back to the 30s. Charles was the owner of the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska.
He met once a week with a group of friends dubbed “The Committee.” The group of friends enjoyed spending their evenings playing poker. Reuben Kulakofsky, one of the committee members, had arrived at the meeting hungry and requested a corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich from the kitchen.
Charles’s son reinforced the order with Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, and rye bread for the sandwich. The combination was apparently so good that it was added to the menu and named the Reuben sandwich after Reuben Kulakofsky.
It became popular locally at first but gained national attention a few years later when one of the Hotel’s kitchen employees entered the recipe and won the award for best sandwich recipe in a nationwide competition for innovative recipes. Since then, the Reuben Sandwich has won the hearts of millions of Americans.
Another story suggests that the first Reuben Sandwich was created in New York. Arnold Reuben, the owner of Reuben’s Delicatessen, would be the author. According to legend, it was first known as the “Reuben Special” and has been on the menu since 1914.
However, there are other versions of this story. Bernard Sobel, a playwright and theater critic, said in his book Broadway Heartbeat: Memoirs of a Press Agent, that the sandwich was created by Marjorie Rambeau, an actress twice nominated for an Academy Award, who had to improvise something to eat one day when she was celebrating with colleagues at Reuben’s Delicatessen and the pantries there were empty.
Others claim that the real author was Alfred Scheuing, one of Reuben’s Delicatessen’s cooks who created the sandwich for the owner’s son, Arnold Jr. Reubens. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, whoever did it.
Other Vegetarian Variants
The Reuben Sandwich has evolved depending on where it is made and has served as inspiration for other recipes.
These include Montreal Reubens, which use Montreal-style smoked meat, as well as the Grouper Reuben Rachel Sandwich, and has even served as the foundation for Reuben egg rolls.
That is why we did not want to end this article without providing you with some other suggestions for the vegetarian Reuben sandwich. We hope that these options inspire you to create your own variations.
Roasted Beets
They are ideal for replacing meat and come in a variety of colors. ‘You can either buy them pre-cooked or cook them yourself. When they’re done, cut them into thick slices and bake them.
To keep them from becoming too dry, wrap them in aluminum foil and add a few drops of water; no oil is required.
Roasted Red Bell Peppers
Roasted peppers are extremely popular throughout the Balkans. They are masters at making them. We recommend that you emulate their straightforward and effective style.
Bake the peppers until the skin is golden brown after rubbing them in oil and salt. The flavor and aroma of the peppers will take center stage.
Final Thoughts
It makes no difference who the author was or if they are served with meat, fish, turkey, onion, or bell peppers.
The important thing is that we have in front of us a fantastic recipe that will satisfy your hunger in seconds and is extremely simple to prepare. Make your own version of the Reuben Sandwich and add it to your repertoire.
Hi, my name is Brett White, and I have a passion for cooking, and following a raw diet. Eating raw has completely changed how I view food, and has led me down a much healthier and happier path in life over the last three years.
Through Addicted To Veggies, I want to share with you my favorite raw recipes. From brownie recipes, to recipes containing pumpkin, my site is full of delicious and wonderful options to consider.
