The best hot Pastrami sandwich features tender pastrami, melted cheese, and tangy coleslaw piled high on rye bread slathered in an old-school Russian dressing.
Like the Mona Lisa, the Sistine Chapel, and whatever that Picasso guy painted, a proper hot pastrami sandwich is a masterpiece! Tender, crunchy, melty, tangy, it strikes the perfect balance of contrasting textures and flavors. Plus, unlike some old dusty painting, no one is going to yell at you for taking a bite. Best of all, there is no need to head to your local deli, we can make this delicious sandwich in your kitchen!
What is a Hot Pastrami Sandwich?
Invented in 1888 by Sussman Volk, a pastrami on rye is a classic New York-style sandwich popularized by Jewish delicatessens. Pastrami on rye can be served cold, but a hot pastrami sandwich is particularly delicious as a melted slice of cheese, toasted bread, and warm slices of pastrami completely transform the flavor.
What Goes On a Pastrami Sandwich?
Hot pastrami sandwiches have a lot in common with the popular Reuben Sandwich. Flavorful pastrami is used instead of corned beef, my coleslaw recipe is substituted for sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing is served rather than Thousand Island.
Each of those ingredients obviously has a lot in common with their substitution, while the Swiss cheese and rye bread remain the same. It is easy to say this sandwich is the Reuben's cousin, if not brother from another brother.
For a different change of pace, you can substitute corned venison for the meat and Provolone cheese rather than Swiss. However, I strongly recommend sticking with traditional rye bread slices.
How to Make a Hot Pastrami Sandwich
If you attempt to make a hot pastrami sandwich by fully constructing the sandwich and then placing it in a skillet to warm up, the slice of bread is going to burn before the meat ever warms up. Instead, you need to warm the meat separately prior to crafting the sandwich.
The best way to warm the meat is to steam it. Boil a small amount of water in the bottom of a pan or skillet and place the meat in a steamer basket above it. Personally, I prefer to use a fine-mesh strainer (affiliate link).
An alternative way you can warm the meat is to quickly place it in a skillet set to medium-low heat, however, you risk cooking it too much with this method. I have also warmed it in the microwave for about 10 seconds per side, on a glass plate. Once again though, this method risks overcooking it but is quick and easy.
To finish the sandwich, I lightly toast the pieces of bread, then brown them in a skillet with butter. This adds great texture and flavor! You can brown the bread before assembling the sandwich, but it is best if the sandwich is fully assembled when you do so because it will help melt the cheese.
Serve with potato chips, sliced dill pickles, or my homemade half-sour pickles.
Hot Pastrami Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices rye bread (traditional, marbled, or pumpernickel)
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter (divided)
- 4 oz sliced pastrami
- ⅓ cup coleslaw
- 1 slice Swiss cheese
- 2 tablespoons Russian dressing
Instructions
- Warm pastrami by placing it in a steamer basket (or strainer) over boiling water. Flip the slices of pastrami to ensure they heat evenly. This should take less than a minute per side.
- Lightly toast the slices of rye bread to firm them up, then coat one side of each slice with butter. To assemble the sandwich, place pastrami on the bottom piece of bread, then top with cheese, coleslaw, and dressing, then place the sandwich in a skillet set over medium heat.
- Leave sandwich in the skillet set over medium heat for ~2 minutes, or until bread slightly browns, then flip and repeat.
- Remove sandwich from the frying pan, cut it in half on a cutting board, and serve.
Notes
Nutritional Information
This recipe was originally published on July 25, 2019, on FoxValleyFoodie.com.
Tracy
I've tried many of your recipes and they all have turned out exceptionally well however this? THIS is the one that shall stay in repeat. I felt like I was in a kosher deli in New York. It was so good I made it for lunch and then had it again for breakfast! Also, I love the game recipes. Great blog. I never run out of meal ideas.
Phil
Another SIMPLE way to melt the cheese is to warm the meat up in a skillet, add the cheese to the meat and cover for for 30 sec-1minute to melt the cheese.
Preheat skillet to medium heat, add meat and splash with broth, after 1-2 minutes, flip meat and splash with broth again, add cheese then cover for approx 1 minute. Once cheese is melty, remove meat with spatula and slide onto toasted bread.
frugal hausfrau
I'm another midwest blogger (and follower) over in the Twin Cities, you betcha! Man do I want a bite out of that sandwich! Gorgeous photo and you're giving me pastrami cravings!
Mollie
Dana
Looks good thanks.