Savory Reuben Pinwheels Recipe

Do you have a hankering for meaty, salty, sour Reuben sandwiches? You are in luck, though these crispy Reuben pinwheels are an easy, crowd-pleasing snack. These party-ready versions of the classic sandwich use store-bought buttery puff pastry, corned beef, gooey Swiss cheese, creamy thousand island dressing, and crisp sauerkraut. All the information you need to know:

Is a Reuben a man?

Reubens are classic sandwiches made on thick rye bread that has been toasted. There’s the thick corned meat, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut spread flat on the bread, topped with Thousand Island dressing. To say it was almost inevitable to turn what leftover corned beef remained after the Saint Patrick’s Day party into a Reuben sandwich would be an understatement.
Now you can have all those famous New York flavors in one bite without the sandwich. These pinwheels work the same parts of your favorite sandwich together but replace the puff pastry with rye bread. Generally, frozen puff pastry sheets are available in most supermarket stores; thaw before using.

Building it:

Once you roll out the dough, you spread it on a very thin layer of thousand island dressing (you can make your own or buy it in the market), then thinly slice corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. Don’t do sauerkraut, though, or your pinwheels will fall apart from their own weight.

Let these pinwheels chill in the roll for about 20 minutes before slicing and baking. It sets everything in place and keeps the butter of your pastry chilled for flaky delights.

A History of the Reuben Pinwheel

In America, delis distribute roll-up versions of the basic Reuben sandwich, but Reuben Pinwheels are actually a miniature version of that sandwich. Ingredients and ingredients that were originally used in a Reuben sandwich of the early twentieth century include corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and dressing of Russian or Thousand Island. Reuben Kulakofsky, a Lithuanian-born Omaha grocer, or Arnold Reuben, a New York deli entrepreneur, are generally credited with creating the Reuben.

The pinwheel variant bundles Reuben components in a soft tortilla or puff pastry for a quick, shared treat. This modern Reuben sandwich likely became popular in the mid-to-late 20th century as finger foods and bite-sized appetizers grew increasingly popular at parties, events, and casual gatherings. The rich tastes of the Reuben sandwich are now available in a compact, portable shape great for entertaining.

Reuben Pinwheels Taste

Reuben Pinwheels pack the bold flavors of the original Reuben sandwich into a tasty nibble. Corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and dressing make the Reuben rich and delicious, sour, and slightly salty.

Corned beef is salty and briny with a hint of pepper, while Swiss cheese is nutty and mellow. Fermented cabbage, and sauerkraut, balances the meat and cheese’s richness with a tart, slightly sour taste. Russian or Thousand Island dressing adds a sweet, creamy flavor that binds everything.

The tortilla or puff pastry crisps slightly when baked, complementing the soft, savory filling. Reuben Pinwheels are a tasty and dynamic snack that brings the iconic Reuben sandwich to every bite with its crunchy, creamy, salty, and sour ingredients.

Ingredients

Thawed 17.3-oz box frozen puff pastry = 1 sheet
2 Tbsp store-bought Thousand Island dressing, plus more for serving
1/2 pound. thinly sliced corned beef
Six tiny Swiss cheese slices
1/4 c. drained chopped sauerkraut

Direction

Step 1 
 
Take a 16″ x 12″ plastic wrap and put it down on a work area. Unfold the puff pastry in the center of plastic wrap and roll to 14″ x 10″.
 
Step 2

Brush pastry with a thin layer of dressing, leaving a 1/4″ border on both long sides. Lay corned meat slices down the center of the pastry, letting slices overlap just enough. Add cheese (cheese slices should not overlap). Long length of sauerkraut along the center of pastry.

Step 3

Wrap plastic wrap carefully around the log, gently pressing plastic wrap around the log from one of the long ends. Wrap the log tightly with plastic. Chill seam-side down for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 400°. Cut the log into 1/4″ rounds using a serrated knife. Space rounds at least 1″ apart on two baking sheets.
 
Step 5
 
Bake pinwheels for 18 minutes until the dough is golden brown and the cheese melts.
 
Step 6
 
Place pinwheels on a plate. Serve with extra dressing for dipping at room temperature or serve immediately.

Conclusion

These Reuben Pinwheels are a fun and bite-sized take on the traditional Reuben sandwich. They are ideal for parties, appetizers, or a quick snack. In these pinwheels, all of the cherished characteristics of the original Reuben are rolled up in a flaky crescent dough or tortilla. These flavors include corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. They make a great entrée for a large crowd, as they’re easy to make and bake. Bringing the rich flavor of a deli sandwich to your table, warm or cold, in an entertaining yet easy-to-eat style is Reuben Pinwheels.

FAQs