Once in a while I pull out all stops and cook for the boys.
I mean really cook for the boys.
The kind of food that deserves a cold beer (for the dad) and a cold glass of milk for the munchkins. The kind of food that involves stringy cheese and thick bread and loaded with meat & cheese.
No sign of a green leaf anywhere in sight.
All hail food from the Manverse!
For a family that loves it's Reubens, this comes as no surprise.
Now, a quintessential American sandwich, this country's love for the Reuben sandwiches began in the 1920's though the jury is still out on whether this creation is all thanks to a Lithuanian grocer from Omaha, Nebraska or a deli in New York city.
Either way, America has had a good 93 years loving this sandwich and the fervor has dimmed not.
A classic Reuben sandwich consists of corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), swiss cheese and Russian dressing (a lot like Thousand Island Dressing) or Dijon mustard.
I've taken all of elements of the sandwich and using home made pizza dough, hand pressed it into my favorite Emile Henry clay pot brazier hence, the deep dish.
Next, I slathered the pizza base in home made Russian dressing, sauerkraut, sliced swiss cheese, folded layers of thick cut pastrami followed by even more sliced cheese.
All that in a super hot oven and the result is an incredible, what's got to be a sandwich's gift to a pizza!
Like I said, all hail the manverse and I leave now you with a recipe and the image of Tarzan beating his chest.
Gather the ingredients,
1-1/2 lb homemade or store bought pizza dough, 1 packet store-bough sauerkraut, from the deli section - 1 lb sliced pastrami & 1 lb sliced swiss cheese
Preheat the oven to 425 deg F
Sauerkraut: Rinse in tap water in a sieve. Press wth hands to remove all excess water. This is very important or you will end up with a soggy pizza.
Russian dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup tomato ketchup, 2 tsp grated horseradish, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper & 1 tbs capers - drained or chopped pickles.
Dressing: Combine in a bowl & set aside.
Press the dough ball by hand into the bottom of a 12" brazier or clay pot or cast iron skillet.
Liberally spread 1/2 cup dressing over the pizza base.
Overlap 1/2 the cheese slices over the dressing.
Spread as much sauerkraut over the dressing as you desire. I used 1/2 the packet.
In a radial fashion, arrange the pastrami slices in folds over the pizza.
Diagonally cut the remaining cheese slices so you are left with half triangles and arrange over the pastrami.
Bake in the hot oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and pizza base has cooked.
Drizzle some Russian dressing over the pizza, cut into wedges and serve immediately!
Recipe for
Food from the Manverse ~ Deep Dish Reuben Pizza
Preparation time - 15 mins (not including pizza dough)
Baking time - 30 mins
Serves 4-6
Shopping list
1-1/2 lb homemade or store bought pizza dough, 1 packet store-bough sauerkraut, from the deli section - 1 lb sliced pastrami & 1 lb sliced swiss cheese
Preheat the oven to 425 deg F
Preparation
Sauerkraut: Rinse in tap water in a sieve. Press wth hands to remove all excess water. This is very important or you will end up with a soggy pizza.
Russian dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup tomato ketchup, 2 tsp grated horseradish, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper & 1 tbs capers - drained or chopped pickles.
Dressing: Combine in a bowl & set aside.
Method:
Press the dough ball by hand into the bottom of a 12" brazier or clay pot or cast iron skillet.
Liberally spread 1/2 cup dressing over the pizza base.
Overlap 1/2 the cheese slices over the dressing.
Spread as much sauerkraut over the dressing as you desire. I used 1/2 the packet.
In a radial fashion, arrange the pastrami slices in folds over the pizza.
Diagonally cut the remaining cheese slices so you are left with half triangles and arrange over the pastrami.
Bake in the hot oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and pizza base has cooked.
Drizzle some Russian dressing over the pizza, cut into wedges and serve immediately!
Enjoy!
