Forget Sauerkraut: Reuben Sandwiches Are 10x More Flavorful When You Use This Tangy Swap

A classic Reuben is hard to beat. This sandwich is typically made with five ingredients: corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island or Russian dressing, all served on fresh rye bread. While variations do exist (the Rachel sandwich which has a different meat and topping, for example), this ingredient combo is the tried-and-true way to do it. But what if you want something spicier and crunchier than sauerkraut, yet still with that classic fermented tang? Next time, reach for kimchi.

Kimchi is incredibly popular in Korean cuisine, where it originated, but through the years, it's made its way into other dishes. It's essentially just fermented vegetables, often with a classic napa cabbage base but sometimes with other veggies like daikon and scallions, though recipes vary. The cabbage and other vegetables are salted, then left to sit and ferment, giving it that similar tang to sauerkraut; this is what makes it a perfect pairing on a Reuben. With that said, it's usually a little heartier than sauerkraut and maintains just a bit more crunch, plus it gets its spice from gochugaru, or Korean red pepper flakes, which sauerkraut won't have. 

Since kimchi has that extra zest from the red pepper flakes, it has a more robust flavor than sauerkraut. If you're making a Reuben at home, the amount of kimchi to add is up to you. Given its intense flavor, you only need a fairly thin layer on the Reuben — enough to stand out and taste that fermentation and spice, but not so much that you lose sight of the other flavors in the sandwich.

You can even get more creative and swap other Reuben ingredients that better complement the kimchi. Since kimchi is so salty, and so is corned beef, swap the meat out for another rich alternative that isn't as salt-heavy. Mortadella is a good option, and roast beef works, too. You can also swap rye bread for pumpernickel, which adds a slightly sweet yet malted flavor that offers nice balance with kimchi's tang and spice. Kimchi also works on the Reuben's sibling, the Rachel (made with turkey and coleslaw), replacing the traditional mayo-based cabbage slaw.