Top o’ the morning to ya! Happy St. Patrick’s Day. For this holiday, Horseradish, Thoroughbred U’s regular chef, we will be keeping it easy and making reubens. I love a good reuben and I eat them regularly at Keeneland racecourse and at a variety of Irish themed bars. Many restaurants add it to their menu for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. The sandwich isn’t in fact Irish, it’s all American but it’s all good and a fun and easy way to celebrate the day. Turn on the television and watch 2 Kentucky Derby prep races and some March Madness Basketball with a reuben, chips and a green frosty beverage. Horseradish will show you how it is done.
St. Patrick’s Day is meant to be fun and easy. Reubens are perfect. American’s love corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for St. Patrick’s so this simple corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich pared with potato chips is the best way to go. I love a good holiday that can be spent with friends and family without all the preparations and fuss. For St. Patrick’s, one quick grocery trip and nothing too pricey will get you everything you need for race and game time food around the TV.
Horseradish selected some fresh baked, dark rye bread for his reuben. Keeneland race course will often serve theirs as a wrap. Any way you slice it, the reuben will come out delicious.
Traditionally, Irish would serve ham or bacon because that was what was available to them in Ireland. When they migrated to America, corned beef was affordable and abundant and that is why corned beef is more of an Irish-American food. Many people will enjoy a boiled version of corned beef today but it is quite nice already sliced and straight from the deli counter.
What could be more Irish than cheese named for the Swiss? Trust me, melted Swiss is the right cheese to top the corned beef creation.
A variety of dressings and condiments kick up the flavor on the reuben. I prefer the spicy taste of Thousand Island dressing. Russian dressing, mustard and mayonnaise are other favorite toppings. Also, Horseradish Dijon pairs well but that is a little scary sounding to our chef.
A few simple ingredients can turn cabbage into sauerkraut or just buy it pre-made in bags or cans. The pairing of the cabbage and corned beef is mouth watering.
Kick-back, and watch the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park today to see who races up the KY Derby leaderboard next. St. Patrick’s Day features 2 of the final 12 prep races leading up to the KY Derby. The Jeff Ruby Steaks post at 6 P.M. EST with a $200,00 purse on a dirt track of 1 and 1/8 miles as race 10 on a card of 12. The Rebel race posts at 7:09 P.M. EST with a purse of $900,000 at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles as the 10th race on a card of 10. There will also be all sorts of parades, celebrations and championship basketball to enjoy as well. Keep the menu simple and festive and enjoy a reuben!
Thanks horseradish! It’s one of my favorite sandwiches! Happy ST Patrick’s Day !!!!