Ecuadorian Reuben Recipes

RUBIN'S REUBEN

Steps:

• For the brisket: In a large pot, combine the salt, sugar, peppercorns, juniper berries, allspice, cloves, mustard seeds, bay leaves and cinnamon stick and cover with 2 gallons water. Bring the mixture to a boil, remove from the heat and chill to 40 degrees F.
• Fill a marinade injector with some of the brine and inject the brisket with as much brine as it will hold. Submerge the brisket in the remaining brine and store in a baking dish, covered, in the refrigerator overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Place the brisket into a large roasting pan and cover it with as much of the brining liquid as the pan will hold. Cover the pan with foil and place in the oven until tender and medium-rare, about 2 hours. An instant-read thermometer should register 130 degrees F. Remove the brisket from the oven, place on a platter and/or cutting board and tent with foil. Let the brisket rest for 1 hour. Slice as thinly as possible.
• To serve: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the rye bread and place on a baking sheet. Top with 6 ounces thinly sliced brisket, some Beer Braised Sauerkraut and a slice of Swiss cheese. Bake the Reubens until the cheese is melted and warmed through, about 5 minutes. Top with Smoked Russian Dressing.
• Heat a saute pan over medium heat, add the bacon and render the fat, cooking until bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and set aside. Add the onions and saute in the bacon fat until translucent. Add the sauerkraut, sugar, beer and bay leaf and simmer until almost all of the liquid is gone, about 15 minutes. Add the bacon back to the pan to warm through and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper and brown sugar.
• Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and chill in the refrigerator.

MINI CUBAN REUBENS WITH PULLED PORK AND ORANGE MAYO

Steps:

• For the pork: Season the pork pieces with salt and place in a stove-top pressure cooker. Add the garlic, orange juice and orange peels. Place the lid on top put over high heat. Once it comes to pressure, cook on high pressure for 45 minutes.
• When finished cooking, cool and release pressure according to manufacturer's directions. Very carefully open the cooker and, using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a plate.
• Strain the remaining liquid into a high-sided saute pan over medium-high heat, reserving the softened garlic for later, and reduce until a glaze consistency, 5 to 10 minutes. This will be for your Orange Mayo.
• When the pork is cool enough to handle, using 2 forks or your fingers, shred it, transfer it to a heatproof bowl, and pour the reduced cooking liquid over the meat.
• For the kraut: Add the shredded cabbage, vinegar, orange juice, honey, and salt to a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When the liquid comes to a boil, remove from the heat and let cool in the liquid to room temperature. Once cooled, remove the quick pickled cabbage from the liquid and put into a bowl, storing in the refrigerator until needed.
• For the orange mayo: Add the mayonnaise, mustard and softened garlic to a large bowl and whisk to combine making sure the garlic is thoroughly blended. Pour in about 1/2 cup of the reduced orange sauce and whisk until thoroughly smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
• Line up all of the bread slices on a work surface. Spread each slice with 1 tablespoon of the orange mayo. Top half of the bread slices with 1/8 of the grated cheese, one-fourth of the pork, a small mound of the kraut, 4 pickle chips, and a second layer of grated cheese. Close the sandwiches with the remaining mayo-bread slices.
• Line a large platter with paper towels. Preheat a double burner cast iron griddle pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons butter. Once the butter has melted, turn down the heat to low, add 2 sandwiches, and cook, turning once, for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until browned and crisp on both sides and the cheese is melted. Transfer to the prepared platter to blot the excess grease. Repeat with the remaining butter and sandwiches.
• Cut the sandwiches in quarters, plate, and serve.