An easy to make, over the top flavorful sauerkraut sandwich with roasted beets! This Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich features roasted beets, a tangy Russian dressing slathered over rye bread topped with Swiss cheese and kraut! It’s meal prep ready too. This recipe is vegetarian, easily vegan and gluten free when made with gluten free bread.
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A Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich Obsession
I’m completely smitten with this sauerkraut sandwich. I mean, shall I say, obsessed?
When I was a kid, I’d do anything to avoid my sauerkraut loving parents at dinner time when I smelled it simmering on the stove. The aromas wafting from the kitchen would literally knock me out! It’s funny how our tastebuds mature overtime. Once repulsed by the humble fermented cabbage, now I seek it out, looking for new ways to enjoy it. Sauerkraut is absolutely fabulous and best of all, it’s loaded with good for us probiotics!
This sandwich is a riff on my original Beet Sauerkraut Sandwich. But I didn’t discover just how different that recipe tastes from this new rendition until a pit stop half way down Whidbey Island at a historic store called The Greenbank Pantry (aka, The Greenbank Store). A few years ago this store came under new ownership. As a new offering, they make fresh bread daily and whip up creative sandwiches including thoughtful vegetarian and vegan sammies (!!).
It was at The Greenbank Pantry where I discovered the holy grail of a Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich on a cold rainy day on my way down to the Bayview Farmers Market. It’s like remembering your first kiss, or first car. This sauerkraut sandwich is everything I want it to be! Full of flavor, slightly sweet, tangy, packed with crunchy yet tender veggies and a sauce that sent me over the moon! A triumph.
The Sauce
I called the store after devouring that sandwich and spoke with Alex, the owner and creator of the beet sandwich who shared the ingredients of his sauce with me. I wrote the ingredients down then got to work on creating the ratios for this recipe.
The sauce, Alex told me, is similar to a Russian sauce, somewhat like Thousand Island but different because it’s a bit spicy. Now, another Russian dressing sauce I’ve tried incorporated horseradish, but I like the flavor of Sriracha more-so for this recipe. Best of all, it’s made pretty much with pantry staples.
In a small bowl, whisk all the ingredients together. It lasts a long time in the fridge, so you can have it on the ready when your sandwich cravings call. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Dijon Mustard
- Sriracha
- Mayo – for a Vegan Russian Dressing use vegan mayo – I like Follow Your Heart
- Black Pepper
- Ketchup
- Dill Pickles
- Worcestershire Sauce – vegetarian and vegan
Ingredients for a Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich
With just a few simple ingredients, veggie reuben nirvana is right here. Here’s what you’ll need to whip em’ up:
- Really good bread. Go for a sturdy sourdough Rye or a seedy sourdough.
- Roasted Beets, sliced thin. I have a super simple beet roasting method if needed.
- Sauerkraut. I like Pickled Planet or Bubbies
- Swiss Cheese
How to Make a Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich
Meal prep the sauce and beets to make this sandwich in under 15 minutes! Grill it in a cast iron skillet or broil it in a toaster oven. Either way, enjoy this veggie reuben toasty warm with or without the Swiss. Here’s how to make em’:
- First, brush the skillet with olive oil. Lay both pieces of bread in the skillet and schmear both sides with sauce.
- Second, lay a slice of cheese on each side of the bread, over the sauce.
- Third, top one side with sliced beets. Stack em’ high or keep em’ low.
- Next, top with drained kraut.
- Last, turn the heat on and toast with the lid on for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Share toasty warm with a side salad or simple soup.
A Few Recipe Notes
- Make it Gluten Free: Find your favorite gluten free bread and whip this up in no time!
- Make a Vegan Reuben Sandwich: simply leave the Swiss cheese off and be sure to use vegan mayo. I like Follow Your Heart – Vegenaise.
- Meal Prep? Yes please! Make the sauce and roast the beets ahead. It takes about an hour to roast and peel beets, but they can be done up to three days in advance. The sauce can last for weeks in the fridge.
- How to Roast Beets? I have an easy DIY method here.
More Vegetarian Sandwiches to Love
- Mushroom and Goat Cheese Veggie Panini
- Pulled Portobello BBQ Sandwiches
- Italian Pressed Sandwich with Olive Tapenade
- Almond-Sage Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Cheese-less Smashed Pimento Chickpea Sandwich
the recipe
Vegetarian Reuben Sandwich
Ingredients
For the Russian Dressing (makes about 1/2 C - enough for about three sandwiches):
- 4 Tbs Mayo I like Vegenaise
- 2 1/2 tsp Ketchup
- 1 tsp Sriracha add an extra 1/2 tsp for more spicy
- 1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 tsp Vegan Worcestershire Sauce I like Wizards or Annies
- 1/8 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Tbs Dill Pickles chopped fine
For the Sandwich:
- 2 Slices of Sourdough Bread Rye or Seeded Sourdough
- Russian Dressing recipe above
- 1 Slice Swiss Cheese cut to fit the bread (optional)
- 1 - 2 Medium Roasted Beets peeled and sliced thin
- 3-4 Tbs Sauerkraut drained
Instructions
For the Russian Dressing (sauce):
- In a small lidded container add the mayo, ketchup, Sriracha, dijon, Worcestershire, pepper and dill pickles. Whisk to evenly distribute the ingredients. Lid and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
For the Sandwich:
- Make it in a skillet or broil the sammie in the oven (no oil required). A. In a Skillet: Lightly brush a cast iron skillet with olive oil. Place two pieces of bread in the pan and slather each side with the sauce. Over the sauce on each side of the bread, add a slice of Swiss cheese if using. Top one side with beet slices, pile them high if desired, then top the beets with sauerkraut.Turn the heat onto medium and lid the pan. Toast for 4-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and/or the beets are warm. Remove from heat and put the sandwich together. Share right away. ORB. In the Oven: Slather each side of bread with the sauce. On each side of the bread, add a slice of Swiss cheese if using. Top one side with beet slices, pile them high if desired, then top the beets with sauerkraut.Place both sides in the oven (I use a toaster oven) under the broiler and broil for 4-5 minutes OR until the cheese is melted and/or the sandwich is warmed through. Remove from oven and put the sandwich together. Share right away.
This was great!
We get a package of Zingerman’s Ruben sandwiches to make every year from my in laws. They are so good, but I’m trying to eat vegetarian and so could hardly wait to try this recipe.
The whole family loved your version of the Rueben, and this is going into the collection of recipes to make for friends when they are finally able to come over again.
Hi Karen! So happy to hear and a win-win for the fam! Thank you for coming back and leaving a note. Here’s to more veggie Reubens!
I made this sandwich with sweet potato instead of beets, and it was delicious! I definitely be making it again when I’ve got beets !
Hi Nicole! Oh my! Sweet potatoes?! That sounds amazing! I’ve gotta give it a go. Thank you for sharing your tip. I hope you enjoy it too with the beets (I just made a few of these this weekend!).
Wow, what a fantastic sandwich! Reubens are one of the last remaining meat-based foods that I eat but I decided to look for a vegetarian version (all the while feeling pretty skeptical). My wife and I both loved it, thanks!
Glad I found your site, there are so many more recipes that sound appealing.
Hi Joe! Thank you for your note and giving the recipe a go! SO happy to hear you’re enjoying the recipe and that you found a veggie reuben to love! Who knew beets on a sammie could be so satisfying! :D
Used this recipe but substituted fresh avocado slices for the beets. We were trying to duplicate an avocado Reuben we ate at a deli once. It was delicious with the avocado. Sauce used here is wonderful.
I actually didn’t discover sauerkraut until I was a teenager but I love it now! Although I did just buy some the other day that smelled like farts, haha! I think the idea of a beet reuben is absolutely genius and it sure makes for gorgeous photos. Only if you take them, of course. ;)
I am completely smitten, too! I love beets – and frankly, everything in this sandwich is making my mouth water! This needs to happen, stat!
We enjoyed this wonderful creation and will certainly make again. Thank you!
SO happy to hear, Chad! Thank you for coming back and leaving a note.
This looks absolutely delicious, Traci! I love a good sandwich, especially something a little out of the ordinary – and this one is hitting all the right buttons. I am a big beet fan – but never had them in a sandwich – so I can’t wait to try this. I love trying to recreate a meal that I had somewhere – and how generous was it of the restaurant owner to share the sauce recipe. Pinning to share!
Genius Traci! I grew up eating sauerkraut, so I’ve always been a fan. I’m so glad you decided to share this after you sampled it somewhere. I get some of my best recipe ideas from places where Tom and I have eaten. I love how you compared it to your first kiss/car! Hilarious! Beets ate something that I grew into. My Gram would eat them when I was young, and I thought she was crazy for liking them! Things change. I’ll be adding this sammie to my list. Can’t wait to give it a go!
There is something so satisfying about a grilled sandwich on really good bread. You had me at roasted beets with this one and the sauce sounds like it could easily become a favorite in my house. So nice of The Greenbank Pantry to share the ingredients with you!
I just love beets in sandwiches! And that dressing sounds super good, too! What a great find! Thanks for sharing, Traci!