MAKES 4 SANDWICHES AND 1 CUP DRESSING, ENOUGH FOR ABOUT 16 SANDWICHES
I love a good Reuben sandwich, and I have a great childhood memory of roast beef on dark rye with Russian dressing. This sandwich uses leftover rib roast and marries these two great culinary memories into one delicious grilled sandwich.
For the Dressing
1/3 cup HORSERADISH CREAM, or 1/3 cup sour cream plus 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1/3 cup MAYONNAISE or store-bought mayonnaise
1/3 cup KETCHUP
1 tablespoon WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
1/4 cup finely chopped SHALLOT (about 1 medium shallot)
1 teaspoon fresh LEMON JUICE
1/4 teaspoon SMOKED SWEET PAPRIKA
1/4 teaspoon KOSHER SALT
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground BLACK PEPPER
For the Sandwiches
1 pound sliced COOKED PRIME RIB
8 tablespoons UNSALTED BUTTER, softened
8 slices RYE BREAD
4 cups shredded SWISS CHEESE (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup SEMI-HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT or store-bought sauerkraut, drained, squeezed dry, and roughly chopped
To make the dressing, stir together all the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate.
To prepare the sandwiches, warm the roast beef under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, just to warm through; you can also do this in a microwave.
Butter one side of each slice of bread and lay the slices buttered side down on a cutting board. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cheese on each of four bread slices. Spread half of the sauerkraut over the cheese, dividing it evenly. Dollop a heaping teaspoon of dressing on top of the sauerkraut on each piece of bread and lay the roast beef on top of the dressing. Spread another heaping teaspoon of dressing on top of each serving of meat and top with the remaining sauerkraut and cheese. Top each sandwich with a slice of bread and press lightly to seal.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet or a griddle over medium heat. If you’re using a skillet, you’ll have to cook the sandwiches in batches; if you’re using a griddle, you’ll be able to cook all four at once. Lay the sandwiches in the pan and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until they are golden brown and the cheese has melted. Cut in half and eat.