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Feeling like our Thursday needs a sandwich.
More specifically, a giant healthier tempeh reuben. Or really, a vegetarian and almost vegan, reuben inspired sandwich. Ahh, what? Let me explain. Basically this sandwich is simple. I took all the flavors of a classic reuben, and adapted them to be healthier and lighter. I removed the meat, but not the cheese. 🙂 You all know that leaving off the swiss was just not an option for me. Everything else layered between these two pieces of bread is one hundred percent perfectly vegetarian and even vegan friendly.
I am not a vegan. I mean, obviously, but I am loving having fun experimenting with vegan recipes this month, and this reuben is one of my favorites. The idea came from my family, as a lot of the recipes this month have. Lyndsie was telling me all about a tempeh reuben she had at a restaurant, I think it was in San Fransisco? Anyway, she said it was one of the best sandwiches ever and that I really needed to try to recreate it. Apparently it was layered with cashew cheese, tempeh, vegan cheese, sauerkraut, and 1000 island dressing. To be brutally honest, listening to her explain the sandwich did not excite me at all. I’m not a fan of tofu too much, so I figured I wouldn’t like tempeh. I explained all this and then Lyn’s said that there’s also a brown rice tempeh. When I heard that I was sold.
Something about the brown rice sounded really appealing, so I picked up a whole bunch at Whole Foods and got started building my own tempeh reuben.
I decided to marinate the tempeh in soy sauce, black pepper, and mustard seeds. I wanted the salty soy to help flavor the tempeh. Once the tempeh has marinated for a bit, all you do is pan fry it in a skillet. It’s surprisingly delicious and I think the salty soy really helps, especially if you’re someone who is new to tempeh.
From here, it’s time to build up this sandwich…
…toasted rye bread: find a good whole grain rye bread, mine was seeded, which was delish. Also, I like to use organic butter, which many people are saying is healthy for us…going with it.
…cashew cheese: possibly the most addicting thing ever. It’s not a must for the sandwich since there is already a lot going on, BUT it’s definitely a must try. It’s great as a dip or spread and perfect for making healthy, cheese free sandwiches or sauces.
…marinated, pan-fried tempeh: the perfect meat substitute for a hearty sandwich.
…sauerkraut: I bought mine at the grocery store, but also threw in some shredded, sautéed brussels sprouts…because those are my favorite.
…swiss cheese: a must for me, but if you are vegan, just use extra cashew cheese.
…healthier 1000 island dressing: zero mayo or other incredibly weird ingredients here. I used tahini, flavored with spicy chili paste, in place of the mayo. I’ve never actually had real deal 1000 island dressing, but whatever I created tastes pretty darn good, so I’m going with this too.
…and DONE.
Kind of a loaded sandwich though, right? And I’m not really sure how much it resembles, or even tastes like a true reuben, but just know that it’s super good and a much healthier sandwich option, which I am thinking we can all get on board with!
SIDE NOTE: my brother Creighton is going to be incredibly disgusted with me when he finds out I made a meat free Reuben. He might even disown me for a quick second. Ahh, sorry Creigh, but it had to be done.
Perfect for a fancy ass Thursday lunch or a quick and easy dinner. I highly recommend serving this up with a side of pickles, and maybe even some homemade oven baked french fries? Yes and YUM. Either way you serve it, it’s going to be good.
PS. apparently the pickle was my first ever solid food. My mom gave me my first one on a trip to Washington DC to shut me up while I was teething. I guess that was just the first of many, because I ate them all the time when I was younger. Somehow that changed over the years, seems I only eat now them when they come on the side of my plate at a restaurant…gotta change that!
Healthier Tempeh Reuben.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces brown rice tempeh
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce or tamari
- black pepper
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 4 slices rye bread
- 2 tablespoons organic butter
- 1/4 cup cashew cheese, optional, recipe follows
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 2 slices swiss cheese
Healthier 1000 Island Dressing
- 3/4 cup tahini
- 1-2 tablespoons chili sauce
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped pickle + 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- kosher salt + pepper
Instructions
- Slice the tempeh in half lengthwise and then slice each piece in half to create 4 small, thin pieces.
- In a gallon size zip top bag, combine the tempeh, soy sauce, pinch of black pepper, and mustard seeds. Seal the bag and gently toss to evenly coat. Let marinate for 30 minutes, flipping the bag around half way through.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tempeh in batches and cook until golden crisp, about 3-5 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining tempeh.
- Spread the butter over each piece of bread and toast in the oven on a baking sheet for 3-5 minutes. Remove the bread. Spread the bottom pieces of bread with cashew cheese. Add the tempeh, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese. Return the baking sheet to the oven to melt the cheese, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the Healthier 1000 Island Dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, chili sauce, lemon juice, chopped pickles and pickle juice. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is smooth and pourable. Stir in the chives and season with salt and pepper. Keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
- Spread a little dressing on the inside of the remaining 2 pieces of bread. Remove the sandwiches from the oven and add the top piece of bread, dressing side facing down. Slice each sandwich in half. EAT.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Cashew Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight in water
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt
- 1/4 cup water, plus more if needed
Instructions
- Submerge the cashews in water and soak overnight on the counter. Drain.
- In a food processor, combine the cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder and large pinch of salt. Pulse until smooth and creamy, adding water little by little until a dip like consistency is reached. Taste and adjust salt to your liking. Keep stored in a air tight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Question: are you a slice down the center or slice at an angle kind of person? Me? depends on my mood…and the sandwich.
Really? U took something beautiful and destroyed it Tieghan. Shame
Dude, you are lame. try new things. Eat more greens. Just lookin’ our for your health. When you come next week, I am making this and you are going to love it…but don’t work I’ll make gumbo too. 🙂
I have never tried tempeh, but you’re making this sandwich sound so could I may have to give it a go Tieghan!
You should totally try it! Thank you Mary Ann!
NEED that cashew cheese!!! What a beautiful sandwich. Love the GIF btw 🙂
Thank you Jennifer!
Tempeh is my favorite Plant based product, so naturally I’m loving this!’
Perfect! Thank you Naomi!
This looks crazy delicious! Can’t wait to try
Thank you Matt!
I’ve got to try brown rice tempeh!!! this looks amazing!
Thank you Alice!!
I’m all for the healthier takes on things this year! These sandwiches sound like absolute perfection!
Thank you Tori!!
wow can’t wait to try this!!
Thanks Sara!
Yum, yum, yum! I just love it when you post vegetarian!!
Thank you Kristin!
Yayyyayayay more veggie recipes from HBH!! I’m not the hugest fan of tempeh either, but in certain sandwiches it’s just delicious. I had a TLT (tempeh lettuce tomato) sandwich at a cafe in Denver once and it was AMAZE. When marinated and cooked right, it’s so good!! 😀
Thanks so much Sarah! I hope you love this!
My husband used to make a very tasty and well loved tempeh Ruben sandwich when I was a vegetarian years ago. Your recipe is similar and looks delicious.
Thank you Gerlinde!
Thank you!! I’ve been following your blog for a while and have always loved your recipes. In the last year or so I’ve been slowly transitioning to vegan so I’ve had to adopt and change some of your recipes. It was great to see a vegan recipe today!
I’ve been going through exactly the same thing, Kelly! Absolutely loved the blog, but have been transitioning to plant-based eating since January last year. Nowadays I get SO EXCITED when I can adapt one of your recipes Tieghan. Have been even more excited on all of the veg friendly options this month. Made the thai crockpot curry with chickpeas and WHOA.
I am so glad both of you are loving this recipe! Thank you Lauren!
I hope you love this, Kelly! Thank you!
angle slice ALWAYS, and I love that you put an official cashew cheese recipe in here, I am SO making it!
Yay! Thanks so much Christine!
I NEED to make this! Tempeh rubens are my fav, so so satisfying. We make a similar variation here xox
I hope you love it, Karlie! Thank you!
Gosh, it’s lunch time here now and looking at your photos I wish I had this sandwich right in front of me! 🙂
Thank you Julia!