Mini Reuben Toasts are a quintessential appetizer for St. Patrick's Day. Your friends will love them.
I have a major weakness for mini food, which actually comes in handy when trying to come up with greatappetizerideas. I love taking some of my favorite foods and just turn them into smaller versions of themselves.
The miniaturizing makes them perfect for a party and a crowd.
Do you usually have a party forSt. Patrick’s Day? In all honesty, we don’t do anything big, like getting together with friends, especially when St. Patrick’s Day lands on a weeknight. Between school and swim lessons, I just don’t have the energy to plan a big shindig.
But, and this is a big but, I LOVE making Irish inspired food for my family on and around St. Patrick’s Day — even if it’s just the four of us.
Some years I’ve made a big batch ofGuinness Irish Beef Stewor aclassic corned beef and cabbagedinner. But often, I like to mix up some classic flavors and turn our dinner into a little tasting experience.
I’ll make someIrish beef and vegetable hand piesor some of these mini Reuben toasts. Some of these smaller portions paired with a salad work equally well for a main course as they do for appetizers.
Now, Reuben sandwiches have always been a favorite of mine. I can hardly l resist one when it’s on a menu at a restaurant.
I think it’s something about the fatty corned beef and cheese paired with the tangy sauerkraut. I cannot resist.
These mini Reuben toasts are simply small open faced Reuben sandwiches and so easy to make. You can make a big batch in about 15 minutes, which in my mind is the perfect kind of party food. Hard to get much faster than that! Especially when a third of the time is just for prep.
Pair them with a nice Irish beer (or root beer for the kiddos) and you can have a great little St. Patrick’s Day party in the comfort of your own home.
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Mini Reuben Toasts Ingredients
This recipe calls for five ingredients — most importantly, 1/2 a pound of corned beef, of course, and half that amount of Swiss cheese.
Here's the list:
- 24 slices Party Rye Bread
- 1/2 cup Thousand Island Dressing
- 15 ounces Sauerkraut, Drained
- 1/2 pound Corned Beef, Sliced thin
- 1/4 pound Lacy Swiss Cheese
I like to use Lacy Swiss specifically. If you're unfamiliar, here's a description from Wisconsin Cheese (America's dairyland capital!):
"Like many Swiss varieties, Lacy Swiss is made from cow milk," its website says. "However, instead of being made from whole milk and occasionally cream, lacy varieties are made from lowfat milk and have a delightfully light and nutty flavor, but a lower calorie and sodium content than original Swiss."
Sounds delicious, and health-conscious!
Pepperidge Farm makes Party Rye Bread, but if you can't find a party version specifically, regular rye bread will be totally fine with this recipe!
It's not at all essential, but you can also choose to top these with a little cracked black pepper. For some people, the sauerkraut will be all thezingyou need, but you may appreciate this added flair! Try it out and see.
Tips for Making the Best Mini Reuben Toasts
Here are a few things that will ensure you come out with the best possible results:
- Be sure to toast both sides of the bread. This sounds like a trivial step, but it’s important in how the bread holds up to all of the toppings. There's a lot stacked onto these!
- Drain your sauerkraut as much as possible! Really get rid of as much moisture as you can to ensure that the little toasts don’t get soggy. Sauerkraut can make a real mess and make these impossible to eat if you skip this step, too.
- Use a great quality Swiss cheese. I like a lacy Swiss for this, with it’s tiny little holes it gives you a nice even layer of cheese over the top of each toast. If you can't find it, that's okay.
Now you're ready to party!
FAQs
Reubens traditionally rely on rye bread, which is dense and can soak up any extra juices — so don't swap it for another variety if you can manage. To further fight sogginess, toast the rye bread so that it holds up to the sauerkraut's texture along with ingredients like the sauce and melted cheese.
Should a Reuben be pressed or toasted? ›
In some cases, this rule works for melts, which is what a Reuben technically is. But with the Reuben, I prefer to revert to single-side toasting, because I like the inner surfaces of the bread in a Reuben to be slightly steamed and tender, the whole thing partially fusing together.
What's the difference between a Reuben and a Rachel sandwich? ›
Perhaps owing to its absence of an exact origin story, the Rachel is certainly more of a pliable sandwich than the classic Reuben as far as ingredients are concerned. The first major difference is that the Rachel swaps brisket-based corned beef for pastrami, which comes from a comparatively leaner cut of the cow.
What is the Def Reuben sandwich? ›
: a grilled sandwich consisting of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut usually on rye bread.
What is a dirty Reuben sandwich? ›
Dirty Reuben: Roast Beef, Ike's Dirty Dressing, Purple Slaw, American Cheese. (
What is a Reuben without sauerkraut called? ›
The Rachel sandwich is one of several variations on the famous sandwich. Instead of the classic corned beef and sauerkraut, the Rachel is usually made with turkey or pastrami and coleslaw. Both sandwiches are made with Swiss cheese and rye bread.
Should a Reuben have pastrami or corned beef? ›
A Reuben sandwich is typically made with corned beef. It would taste great with pastrami too, it just wouldn't be a classic Reuben! Bottom line: You can't go wrong with either of these flavor-packed deli meats.
What is a redneck Reuben sandwich? ›
The Redneck Reuben Sandwich is the best BBQ sandwich on the planet! Pork, cheese, collard greens and Texas toast, what more could you need ...
What is a Katz Reuben? ›
Your choice of pastrami, corned beef or turkey breast with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and homemade Russian dressing, all on grilled rye bread... Order Online.
How unhealthy is a Reuben sandwich? ›
About the Reuben
Unfortunately, this traditional sandwich is NOT one that I consider "heart healthy" as it provides approximately 800 calories, 50 grams fat, 20 grams of the artery-clogging saturated fat, 40 grams carbohydrates, 36 grams protein, and a whopping 3200 mg.
“a deli classic reinvented for. south Texas tastes…”
This Texas Reuben features our own lean smoked brisket thrown over some buttered and griddled rye bread. Our sauerkraut is cooked in-house and not like what you usually imagine when it comes to this German staple.
What is a Manhattan Reuben sandwich? ›
The iconic Reuben sandwich—crispy, melty, and oh-so-delicious. It's comfort food at its deli best! The classic Reuben sandwich: layers of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, tucked between slices of hearty rye bread, grilled to crispy, melty perfection.
What is a German Reuben? ›
In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickle. Spread one side of each bread slice with the mayonnaise blend. Pile ham on one slice of bread, and cover with the sauerkraut. Top with the cheese. Broil open faced until the cheese melts.
How do you wrap a sandwich so it doesn't get soggy? ›
Use. Parchment paper checks all the boxes: It's slightly porous and absorbs some moisture that other materials don't. Be sure to employ the double-wrap technique: Wrap your sandwich in one layer, cut the sandwich in half through the parchment paper, and then wrap it again for extra security.
How do you keep breakfast sandwiches from getting soggy? ›
Reheat on a paper towel: When you're heating a frozen Freezer Breakfast Sandwich in the microwave, ice crystals will melt and can be absorbed by the bread making it soggy. To avoid this, wrap it in a paper towel first before microwaving it.
How to make a crispy soggy sandwich? ›
Toast one side of your bread to keep your sandwich crunchy
This hack works for all sorts of sandwiches, from classics like ham and cheese to more unique fare. Toasting one side of your bread can also help maintain the texture of your sandwiches on-the-go, and you can further the results with a little extra prep work.
How do you add moisture to a sandwich? ›
Things like mustard, ketchup, hot sauce, vinegar, and red pepper spread add moisture to a sandwich, unlike oil-based spreads like mayo, which don't seep into bread as much.
