I love twists on classic recipes and I love a good sandwich. This recipe for Smoked Turkey Reubens is perfect for lunch or a quick weeknight dinner.

The sandwich substitutes a quick slaw (cabbage, pickles, dressing) for the sauerkraut, smoked turkey for the corned beef or pastrami, and hearty whole wheat bread for rye. A flavorful, homemade thousand island-style dressing pulls the whole sandwich together. If you’ve got a panini grill, use it. Otherwise, grilling it in the pan works great, too. I forgot to weigh the sandwiches down while grilling them and they still turned out fine. Serve with fresh or pickled veggies or green salad. Enjoy!

Smoked Turkey Reubens
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine (Dec. 2008) 

In this update on the classic, smoked turkey stands in for corned beef, while a fresh slaw and sun-dried tomato mayo take the place of sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. Serves 4.

2 cups thinly sliced green cabbage (about 4 oz.)
3/4 cup julienned kosher dill pickle (from 1 large)
2 tsp. cider vinegar
Kosher salt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
2 Tbs. ketchup
8 slices whole wheat bread
12 thin slices smoked turkey
8 thin slices Swiss cheese
2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened

In a medium bowl, toss the cabbage and pickles with the vinegar and 1/2 tsp. salt. Transfer to a colander, set it in the sink, and let sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, pulse the mayonnaise, sun-dried tomatoes, and ketchup in a food processor until the tomatoes are finely chopped.

Squeeze the cabbage mixture to remove any excess liquid and return to the bowl. Toss the cabbage with 2 Tbs. of the mayonnaise.

Spread the remaining mayonnaise on one side of each slice of the bread. Assemble the sandwiches, layering the turkey, cabbage, and cheese over 4 slices of the bread and topping with the other 4 slices. Spread the outsides of the sandwiches with the butter.

Heat a large grill pan, skillet, or stovetop griddle over medium-low heat. Working in batches if necessary, put the sandwiches in the pan, top with a grill press or heavy skillet to weigh them down, and cook until browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until browned and the cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes more. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve.

Tags: reuben sandwich, sandwich, smoked turkey, smoked turkey reubens, swiss cheese

This delicious sandwich is basically a fancy tuna melt. The addition of roasted red peppers, red onions and a little fresh lemon juice all piled inside a grilled Italian roll makes for an exciting variation on a lunch-time classic. The recipe calls for tuna packed in olive oil, a more flavorful variety than water-packed tuna.  

Since I didn’t have hot cherry peppers, I substituted a chopped pepperoncini pepper to the tuna mixture. Husband wolfed his sandwich down in no-time and heartily voiced his approval of the recipe. I will definitely be making these sandwiches again soon!!!

Grilled Swiss Cheese, Tuna and Red Pepper Sandwiches
-recipe from epicurious.com

Yield: Serves 2

1/4 cup minced drained bottled roasted red peppers
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
a pinch of ground cumin
a 6 1/2-ounce can tuna packed in oil, drained well
1 hard boiled large egg, minced
1 hot cherry pepper, seeded and minced
two 5-inch-long soft Italian rolls
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin
4 slices of Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil

In a bowl whisk together the roasted peppers, the mayonnaise, the lemon juice, and the cumin, add the tuna, flaked, the egg, the cherry pepper, and salt and black pepper to taste, combine the mixture well. Split the rolls, divide the mixture between the bottoms, and top each portion with half the onion, 2 slices of the Swiss cheese, and the tops of the rolls. In a large skillet heat the oil over moderate heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it cook the sandwiches, pressing them with a spatula and turning them, for 8 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Tags: hard-boiled egg, lemon juice, mayonnaise, red onion, roasted red peppers, soft Italian rolls, swiss cheese, tuna

If you’re hankering for a tasty new sandwich then you must try this recipe. Don’t let the sweet onion marmalade scare you away because it’s an easy-to-make, sweet and savory condiment that is really delicious. Also, the marmalade can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to use (it keeps for 2 weeks). For best results, rewarm the refrigerated marmalade a bit before making the sandwiches.  

I used black sourdough rye bread from Trader Joe’s as the foundation for the sandwiches. I suggest using a generous amount of the whole-grain mustard to balance out the sweetness of the onion marmalade. I used sliced Swiss cheese instead of grated (although grated will melt faster). Husband gave this recipe two thumbs up. In fact, he inhaled two whole sandwiches in one sitting. I’d say that’s a seal of approval!

Grilled Pastrami, Swiss, and Sweet Onion Marmalade on Rye
-recipe from Sunset Magazine, July 2009

Make the marmalade ahead so you can whip these babies out in just a few minutes. Leftover marmalade is terrific on pork chops and roast beef.

Onion Marmalade
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 medium red onions, thinly sliced
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup dry but fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel or Grenache

Sandwiches
4 slices extra-sour rye or caraway rye bread
2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
4 thin slices pastrami, uncured if available
4 ounces coarsely shredded Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

Make marmalade: Melt butter with oil in a large heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper, stirring well to combine. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened and browned, about 20 minutes. Add vinegar and wine. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has been absorbed and onions are soft and sticky, about 10 minutes. Let marmalade cool slightly.

Make sandwiches: Evenly spread one side of each bread slice with 1/2 tbsp. butter. Spread unbuttered side of 2 slices with 1 1/2 tbsp. marmalade each, then top with pastrami and cheese. Spread mustard on unbuttered side of remaining 2 bread slices and place each, buttered side up, on pastrami- and cheese-topped slices.

Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes total.

Make ahead: Marmalade keeps up to 2 weeks, covered and chilled.

Tags: pastrami, rye bread, sandwich, sweet onion marmalade, swiss cheese