Corning Beef and My First Reuban Sandwich
March 21, 2011
My first Reuban Sandwich was a long time coming. You see, I am still a bit of a recovering vegetarian. From the number of meaty posts of late, I can see that my recovery is going well. There is so much good, humanely raised meat to be eaten, but still I sometimes hesitate and by no means eat it daily. So I was reluctant to sign on to the meat making challenge of the year, Charcutepalooza. Though, my curiosity and drive to learn about this art of which I know so little forced me to sign on. My first challenge- brining.
Brining is so easy, it is hard for me to think of it as true charcuterie. It involves soaking meat, or other foods, in a salty solution for a time and then eating directly, or cooking. The brine infuses the meat with flavor and moisture, transforming an ordinary cut of meat into something special. The Saint Patrick’s Day staple of Corned Beef is a perfect example. An ordinary brisket is soaked in a spiced brine and a week later emerges as a completely different beast, begging for cabbage and potatoes or to be made into a Reuban Sandwich.
Saveur magazine featured a recipe in their last issue for Corned Beef. I omitted the pink salt (sodium nitrate), because I did not have that on hand. Because of that, the brisket did not have the signature pink color of the supermarket corned beef, but the flavor did not suffer. This recipe is definitely a keeper. My husband commented that he didn’t think that he could bring himself to eat supermarket corned beef again. We agreed that the natural brown color of the meat was actually more appetizing than the artificial looking pink that we tend to associate with corned beef. We loved the meal, but what I was really looking forward to was the leftovers, made into homemade Reuban Sandwiches.
For weeks I have craved a Reuban Sandwich. Perhaps this is a normal post-St. Paddy’s Day leftover item, but for me it is my first. Why I regularly crave foods I have never eaten, I do not know. I do know the sandwich was delicious, and I will make it again. Early in the morning, I mixed up dark rye bread dough, using a recipe from Bernard Clayton’s The Complete Book of Breads. The flavor was well developed, but the dough never rose properly despite adding extra hours onto the recommended rise time. I intended to share that recipe as well, but I will spare you the disappointment. Luckily, the bread was still very enjoyable so I used it anyway. It worked fine, but the sandwiches were small.
Putting together a Reuban is easy. Heat up the griddle, grease it, and toast one side of your bread. Flip the bread and top one side with Russian dressing and corned beef and one side with swiss cheese (or I used Irish cheddar). Top the meat with a pile of sauerkraut. Flip the cheesy side onto the meaty side. Press down with a heavy pan until sandwich is heated through and adheres to itself. Eat and enjoy!
And so a new tradition is born, I can see many years of homemade corned beef and Reuban sandwiches in our future. Even the kids have signed on, minus the sauerkraut.
Corned Beef
adapted from Saveur Magazine
serves 10
1 Tablespoon whole allspice
1 Tablespoon cloves
1 Tablespoon coriander
1 Tablespoon crushed red chile flakes
1 Tablespoon mustard seeds
1 Tablespoon whole black peppercorns
3 bay leaves, crumbled
1 1/4 cups kosher salt, plus more to taste
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon pink salt (optional)
1 5-lb. first-cut beef brisket
Toast the spices in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant. Heat 8 cups of water, sugar, and salt until sugar and salt dissolve. Refrigerate until cool. Combine with 3/4 of the spices (reserve the rest for cooking the brisket) and pour over beef in a large container. Weigh meat down with a plate so that it remains submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 5-7 days.
Drain and rinse meat. Place meat in a large pot with reserved spices and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 1 – 2 hours or until meat is tender. Remove from water and slice thinly. Serve with potatoes and boiled cabbage, or make it up into a Reuban Sandwich!
Here is a printer friendly version of the recipe: Corned Beef
Check out this other recipe for brining:
Herb Rubbed Pork Loin with Onion, Raisin, Garlic Compote
Herb Rubbed Pork Loin with Onion, Raisin, Garlic Compote
February 11, 2011
Over the past four and a half years, my husband and I have mastered the art of the special dinner at home. Our kids, too young to tuck themselves in, hold us captive. We have a running joke where one of us asks, “What do you want to do tonight?” In response, the other spouts off lists of adventurous ideas all involving actually leaving the house together, even though our kids are sound asleep. We laugh as we pretend we have options aside from the rented movie, the game of dominoes, or going to sleep at a deliciously early hour- oh, now I really am sounding old. All jokes aside, a night at home can be quite special. We prefer to celebrate the opportunity staying in presents, rather than long for the greener grass.
In our home every detail of our meal can be catered to our whim. We choose festive, fancy, or casual. Our tastes can travel to Thailand, Italy, or Mexico. We can eat with china or our fingers. At home we make the food exactly how we want to eat it. We use only the freshest, seasonal ingredients, all at a fraction of the cost of a nice restaurant meal. There is no need for reservations or babysitters. Perhaps the best reason to celebrate the special dinner at home, is the pride and satisfaction of sitting down together to eat a meal which one of us (or both) have put our heart and hands into preparing with love.
Our most recent special meal was Herb Rubbed Pork Loin. I used an exceptional brine from the girl and the fig that I have used in the past with chops. Brining allows the meat to retain moisture through the cooking and infuses the meat with tremendous flavor. To ensure the brine and seasoning could permeate the entire roast, I sliced the meat horizontally, a technique I picked up from Cook’s Illustrated. After the brine, I marinated the meat in mustard and herbs from the garden. We were able to take advantage of unseasonably warm weather here in Sonoma County and grill the loin. This could easily be roasted in the oven as well with the added bonus of being able to collect the juices for a gravy.
The pork loin turned out incredibly moist and flavorful. The brine perfectly seasoned the interior of the meat, and the marinade gave a delightful herbal tang to the exterior. Do not overlook the Onion, Raisin, Garlic Compote, it is fabulous! We both agreed that we could eat an entire bowl of it as an official side dish. Onions, raisins, and garlic are cooked down with butter, port, and herbs. This is a perfect accompaniment to the pork loin. This meal turned another night at home with the family into a special night indeed.
My Pantry Shelf 