Pastrami on rye is a classic sandwich made famous in the Jewish kosher delicatessens of New York City. It was first created in 1888 by Sussman Volk, who served it at his deli on Delancey Street in New York City. It is still considered a favorite among Italian Americans in NYS and is one of the all time favorites when it comes to sandwiches in the United states.
Ingredients
onion marmalade
tablespoon of butter: 1
vegetable oil: 1 tbsp
medium red onions, thinly sliced: 2
large garlic clove – minced: 1
cup of sugar: 1/2
teaspoon of salt: 1/2
Freshly ground black pepper: 1 tsp
red wine vinegar: 1/2 cup
dry but fruity red wine, such as zinfandel or grenache sandwiches: 1/2 cup
extra-sour rye or caraway rye bread: 4 slices
softened unsalted butter: 2 tbsp
slices pastrami, uncured if available: 4 thin
coarsely shredded swiss cheese: 4 ounces
whole grain mustard: 4 tbsp
How To Make The Pastrami Rye Sandwich
- Make marmalade: Melt butter with oil in a large heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper, stirring well to combine creating a sweet onion broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened and browned, about 20 minutes. Add vinegar or wine. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has been absorbed and onions are soft and sticky, about 10 minutes. Let marmalade cool slightly.
- Make the sandwiches: Evenly spread one side of each bread slice with 1/2 tbsp. butter and spread thinly across the breads. Spread the marmalade on the un touched side and then top with pastrami and cheese. Spread the mustard on unbuttered side of remaining 2 bread slices and place each, buttered side up, on pastrami- and cheese-topped slices.
- Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes total.
- Make ahead: Marmalade keeps up to 2 weeks, covered and chilled.
Trivia
- January 14th is said to be the National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.
- Both the dish and the word pastrami originate from the Romanian delicacy pastram? Which translates to pressed meat this means the pastrami is prepared in a way that would be called pressing the meat from which the Yiddish language borrowed it.
Unlike Pastrami Pastram (pressed meat), is a similar but different delicacy.