Secret of Katz’s Reuben Sandwich Recipe Revealed!

The famous 1989 film “When Harry Met Sally” not only put Billy Crystal on the map, it also made a star of our favorite combination of bread, corned beef and sauerkraut: the Katz’s Reuben sandwich.

“Let me be clear about one thing here — the Reuben is a made-up sandwich,” says Jake Dell, owner of Katz’s Delicatessen. “Back when we opened, you couldn’t find a deli that would dream of combining meat and cheese.”

“But times have changed, and sandwiches have evolved,” adds Dell. “After much pushing and prodding by our loyal fans, we added the Reuben, and it didn’t take long for these same customers to start asking our cutters to make it with pastrami, instead of corned beef. And so, I give you the pastrami Reuben!”

To celebrate the anniversary of the sandwich, Dell is sharing the Katz’s famous recipe, and is even offering the corned beef via mail.

Ingredients:

  • 10-12 oz. Katz’s pastrami (or of your own choosing)
  • Handful of sauerkraut
  • 4 thin slices of Swiss cheese
  • Dash of Russian dressing (homemade preferred)
  • 2 slices seedless rye bread

Instructions:

  1. Melt swiss cheese. Once it’s melted, add it over a plate of sauerkraut.
  2. Add sauerkraut and cheese to delicately sliced pastrami that rests atop a single slice of rye.
  3. Smother the other slice of bread with Russian dressing.
  4. Close the sandwich and enjoy!