Tempeh Reubens with Caramelized Onions
Layers of tempeh, sauerkraut and caramelized onions give this warm sandwich a rich, well-integrated flavor. Although you can spread the bread with mustard, the Russian dressing is delicious and takes just minutes to make—you can do it while the tempeh is simmering. If you like, top the assembled Reubens with…
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Layers of tempeh, sauerkraut and caramelized onions give this warm sandwich a rich, well-integrated flavor. Although you can spread the bread with mustard, the Russian dressing is delicious and takes just minutes to make—you can do it while the tempeh is simmering. If you like, top the assembled Reubens with slices of soy cheese, then run the sandwiches under the broiler just until the cheese melts. Two brands that melt nicely: Soy Moon Gouda or Veggie Slices American cheese. The Russian Dressing makes 1/2 cup.
Ingredients
Russian dressing
- 4 Tbs. eggless mayonnaise
- 1 Tbs. tomato paste
- 1/4 cup minced dill pickle
- 2 Tbs. minced red onion
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Tempeh reubens
- 1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbs. tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbs. black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
- 1 Tbs. caraway seeds
- 2 1/2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cups thinly sliced onions
- 1 1/2 cups sauerkraut, drained and rinsed
- 4 to 6 slices hearty whole grain bread
- 1 bunch arugula, stemmed, rinsed and dried
Preparation
To make Russian Dressing: Mix all ingredients in bowl until thoroughly combined. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
To make Tempeh Reubens: Using sharp knife, cut tempeh crosswise at 45-degree angle into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Combine 1 1/2 cups water, vinegar, tamari, peppercorns and caraway seeds in large saucepan. Add tempeh, spooning mixture over it. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 Tbs. oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt, and cook, stirring often, over medium-low heat about 10 minutes, or until juicy. Increase heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes more, stirring often, until well browned. Remove pan from heat.
Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and add tempeh slices, in batches if necessary. Cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Warm sauerkraut in saucepan over medium-low heat.
To assemble sandwiches, spread each bread slice with 1 heaping Tbs. of Russian dressing. Layer bread with arugula, tempeh, sauerkraut and onions. Serve warm, either open-faced or topped with another slice of bread.
Nutrition Information
- Calories 320
- Carbohydrate Content 38 g
- Cholesterol Content 0 mg
- Fat Content 14 g
- Fiber Content 7 g
- Protein Content 13 g
- Saturated Fat Content 2 g
- Sodium Content 920 mg
- Sugar Content 6 g