What’s not to love about St. Patrick’s Day? The wearing o’ the green, leprechaun pinches, and green food coloring in everything from breakfast to beer.
Plus, I’m excited about the traditional St. Pat’s dinner of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. Seriously delicious.
But to be honest, I’m even more excited that corned beef is finally on sale and thus, affordable. I always buy an extra corned beef (or five) while they’re on sale. At least one of the precious corned beef is destined to star in this Reuben Sandwich Braid which is as much a tradition in our family as corned beef and cabbage.
This favorite recipe has been in my family for more than 30 years. It’s supposed to use up leftover corned beef but that’s never an issue in my house. As recipes evolve with the folks who make them, I’ll share my version with you.
This braided sandwich makes such a beautiful presentation, it’s perfect to serve company or to “wow” your next potluck gathering. Oh, and it’s delicious! Even people who think they don’t like Reubens, love this sandwich. I suggest you make two.
Reuben Sandwich Braid
What You’ll Need:
1 loaf frozen bread dough – or homemade equivalent
1/3 cup thousand island or Russian salad dressing – divided
½ to ¾ pound corned beef – sliced or chopped
6 oz. Swiss cheese – grated
1 cup sauerkraut – well drained
1 egg
Poppy seeds or caraway seeds
Here’s How:
Thaw bread overnight in refrigerator. On a baking sheet lined parchment, let the dough rise at room temperature. Roll the dough into a 14” by 10” rectangle, right on the parchment so you don’t have to move it.
Spread most of the dressing down the center third of the dough. Top with layers of corned beef, cheese, and sauerkraut. I drizzle more dressing on the sauerkraut.
Squish the filling together in the center one third of the dough. Using a knife or kitchen shears, make cuts from filling to edges of dough 1-inch apart on both sides of the filling.
Starting at either end, lift the ends of the dough and form a seal for the top ends of the loaf and begin crossing the strips into a decorative pattern over the filling.
Allow the loaf to rise for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Brush the braid with egg wash made by beating one egg with a teaspoon of water. Sprinkle with caraway or poppy seeds.
Bake for 25 minutes and prepare to do your “I’m such a Diva” strut!
You can vary the recipe by using any sandwich filling you like and have the same beautiful presentation and bragging rights.
For times when corned beef is expensive, (like the other 51 weeks of the year) substitute pastrami or turkey pastrami. You can use other fillings like pepperoni and mozzarella, BBQ chicken and pepper jack, roast veggies and ricotta, ham with broccoli and cheddar.
Simply stuff all your leftovers into a bread braid and it’ll be fabulous (and frugal)!
Frugal Food contributed by Patti Diamond from Divas On A Dime – Where Frugal Meets Fabulous! www.divasonadime.com.Join us on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom.