Reuben Sandwich Our Way

This is how we make our Reuben sandwiches at our house. They're hearty, messy, usually require the aid of a knife and fork, and are absolutely delicious! We think it's because we make our own dressing... you can call it Thousand Island or French, whathaveyou. All we know is that we gladly lick it off our fingers when it dribbles. :) It's also a Pantry Challenge recipe, made with items we already had at home.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup mayonnaise (Best Foods or Hellmann's or Vegenaise)
• 1⁄4 cup catsup
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  dill relish
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  sweet pickle relish
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 teaspoon  dried onion flakes, to taste
• 1⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon lemon juice (we use both, to taste, the balsamic really adds nice flavor) or 1⁄4 teaspoon  balsamic vinegar (we use both, to taste, the balsamic really adds nice flavor)
•  black pepper, to taste
• 2  slices  dark rye bread (caraway or not, it's up to you, but we prefer it without)
• 3  teaspoons butter
• 3 -4  ounces  thinly sliced deli  pastrami
• 1⁄3 cup sauerkraut, drained well (we prefer Bubbie's naturally fermented kraut)
• 1 -2  ounce  sliced provolone cheese or 1 -2  ounce swiss cheese or 1 -2  ounce monterey jack cheese

Directions

1. In a small bowl, make the dressing: combine the mayonnaise, catsup, relishes, onion, garlic, lemon juice, and black pepper to taste; set aside.
2. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
3. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and place one slice of bread, butter-side down, in the pan.
4. Assemble the sandwich: on top of the bread, place the sliced pastrami; top meat with a couple of tablespoons of the dressing; then spread the sauerkraut over, add some more dressing, top with the cheese, then place the other slice of bread- buttered side up- on top (this arrangement helps keep the dressing from soaking the bread too much).
5. Cover the grilling sandwich with a lid (a Reverware saucepan lid works well for this) and let grill for 2 to 3 minutes, checking to make sure that the bread does not burn- the idea is to heat the air underneath the lid and melt the cheese easier as you're also browning the bread.
6. Carefully turn the sandwich, re-cover, and grill other side. (I say "carefully" because, depending on how much of the fillings you put in, this step can get a little messy -- ).
7. Cut the completed grilled sandwich in two and serve with the extra dressing for dipping, along with a dill pickle and potato chips or potato salad.