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Home » Recipes » Seafood

Wild Cod Fish Reuben Sandwich with 30 Second Russian Dressing

Amy Casey in the kitchen.
Updated on: Mar 6, 2023 by Amy Casey · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments
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2 halves of a fish reuben sandwich.

Take a reuben sandwich to the next level with this unique twist. My Wild Cod Fish Reuben Sandwich swaps delicious and healthy white fish for the corned beef. Stack it on rye bread with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and homemade Russian dressing. It's crisped up to crunchy goodness. This Irish inspired sandwich is SO DELICIOUS!

A fish reuben sandwich cut in half.

Welcome to March and all things St. Patrick's Day. With an Irish husband, the whole month is a green infused celebration.

I'll be making holiday favorites ~ Irish soda bread, this fun reuben casserole, and a pan of decadent mint brownies. I'm excited to share my latest Irish inspired recipe. A trip to Florida to escape the blustery winter of the Jersey shore sparked my creation of a Wild Cod Fish Reuben Sandwich.

A cod fish reuben sandwich with a bowl of dressing.

A couple weeks ago, the warm temps of Florida was the perfect respite from our deary weather. Days spent lounging on beach and included a stop at the beachside restaurant for an amazing grouper fish reuben sandwich. I knew I had to recreate the sandwich at home.

With the buttery toasted rye bread overstuffed with perfectly seasoned fish, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and creamy tart Russian dressing, I found my new favorite reuben sandwich.

I'm so excited to share this fish sandwich recipe with all of you!

Wild cod, rye bread, mayonnaise, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut on a wood counter.

ingredients and substitutions

Check the recipe card below for the quantities of each ingredient.

  • wild cod ~ Almost any fish can stand in for the wild cod. Try grouper, mahi mahi, salmon, halibut or haddock.
  • olive oil
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • mayonnaise
  • ketchup
  • sweet pickle relish
  • horseradish
  • rye bread ~ There's many varieties of rye bread. Each is delicious. Experiment with caraway seeded, unseeded, marble (a combo of light and dark rye) and pumpernickel.
  • salted butter
  • sauerkraut
  • Swiss cheese ~ Swiss is the traditional cheese used in a reuben. Some substitutes are also tasty. Try mozzarella, Gruyere, Munster

the recipe details

It all starts with the fish. Get the freshest cod available. Drizzle it with olive oil and generously sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning.

With its mixture of celery salt, garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper and dry mustard, it's my go to spice blend for seafood. Bake the cod until just cooked through. Keep a digital thermometer handy. A reading of 145 degrees F is what you're after.

Wild cod with Old Bay seasoning.
Mixing ingredients for Russian dressing in a small bowl.

While the fish is in the oven, make a quick homemade Russian dressing. It literally takes 30 seconds to make. A store bought one works too. There's some great ones available. Mine includes mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish and horseradish.

Buttered bread, sauerkraut, shredded cheese for fish reubens.
A cooked piece of cod on a slice of bread.

Now's the fun part of assembling the sandwiches. Butter one side of a couple slices of rye bread. With or without caraway seeds. Whatever is your fave. Slather on the Russian dressing and top with the tender cooked cod.

Next add the sour and salty sauerkraut and a heaping handful of grated Swiss cheese. Slices of cheese work too, but freshly grated cheese seems to melt to a gooey goodness. Top with another slice of buttered rye.

Sauerkraut on a open faced reuben sandwich with cod.
A fish reuben on a panini press.

Time to get the fish sandwich all toasty. I love my panini press as there's no need to flip the sandwich. But a cast iron skillet or large sauté pan are good alternatives.

After a few minutes this big, messy and delicious reuben sandwich is ready to eat. If you're a sandwich dipper like me, serve it with the extra Russian dressing.

suggestions and recipe tips

  1. There's some liquid after cooking the cod. Drain as much off so the sandwich isn't soggy.
  2. Ditto for the sauerkraut. Drain off the liquid that it's packed in.
  3. Freshly grated cheese is my go to in recipes. It melts the best. But you can substitute deli sliced cheese too.
  4. The buttery crispy rye is so delicious. I love my panini press to toast both sides of the sandwich at once. A cast iron skillet or large sauté pan are great stand-ins for achieving that golden brown crusted reuben sandwich.
3 halves of a fish reuben sandwich.

more fish recipes to make

  • Baked Shrimp with Feta and Tomatoes
  • Blackened Tuna Bites with Sweet Pickle Dipping Sauce
  • Baked Cod with Crispy Garlic Panko
  • Mussels Marinara
  • Oven Baked Cod Oreganata
  • Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad
2 halves of a fish reuben sandwich.

just one more thing

Did you make these fun and delicious wild cod fish reuben sandwich recipe? I'd love hearing from you if you did! Be sure to leave a comment. Or give this recipe a rating. I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I'll add the photos to my Insta stories. I love seeing all your creations.

Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes. Sign up for my newsletter and never miss one of my new recipes.

Recipe

fish reuben.

Wild Cod Fish Reuben Sandwich with 30 Second Russian Dressing

Take a reuben sandwich to the next level with this unique twist. My Wild Cod Fish Reuben Sandwich swaps delicious and healthy white fish for corned beef. Stack it on rye bread with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and homemade Russian dressing. It's crisped up to crunchy goodness. This Irish inspired sandwich is SO DELICIOUS!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 520kcal
Author: Amy Casey

Ingredients 

  • 2 pieces of cod about 6 ounces each
  • olive oil
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish
  • 4 slices rye bread
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • ½ cup sauerkraut drained
  • 4 ounces Swiss cheese shredded
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place the cod on the sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with Old Bay seasoning.
  • Bake the cod for 12 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees F on a digital thermometer.
  • While the fish is baking, make the Russian dressing. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish and horseradish. Set aside.
  • Remove the fish from the oven. Set aside.
  • Butter one side of each of the slices of bread. Place 2 slices buttered side down on a cutting board. Generously spread some of the Russian dressing on bread. Place a piece of fish on top of each slice of bread. Top the fish with sauerkraut, some of the Swiss cheese, and the remaining slices of bread, butter side up.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet, large sauté pan or a panini press. Cook the sandwiches for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy and golden brown.
  • Remove the sandwiches from the pan, cut in half and serve with the remainder of the Russian dressing.

Video

Notes

Almost any fish can stand in for the wild cod. Try grouper, mahi mahi, salmon, halibut or haddock.
There's some cooking liquid after the cod comes out of the oven. Drain as much off so it doesn't make for a soggy sandwich.
Ditto for the sauerkraut. Drain off the liquid that it's packed in.
The buttery crispy rye is so delicious. I love my panini press to toast both sides of the sandwich at once. A cast iron skillet or large sauté pan are great stand-ins for achieving that golden brown crusted reuben sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 20.7g | Protein: 36.3g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 18.4g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 1138mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g
Did you make this recipe?Tag @amycaseycooks on Instagram so we can all admire your work

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Comments

    5 from 7 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Debbie Wright says

    March 19, 2023 at 11:19 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a unique twist on a classic reuben sandwich. We loved the cod and all the flavors combined. I will be making this again.

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 22, 2023 at 11:40 am

      I totally agree Debbie. It's a delicious combination of flavors.

      Reply
  2. Monica says

    March 19, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    5 stars
    What a fun and fancy feeling sandwich! The dressing really completes it - I love it so much. This is a keeper for sure!

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 22, 2023 at 11:40 am

      Yes! This sandwich is fun 🙂

      Reply
  3. silvia says

    March 19, 2023 at 2:51 pm

    5 stars
    My husband is a fan of rye bread and cod, so this recipe was perfect for making a new lunch meal. We both enjoyed the sandwiches very much, and they were so easy to prepare.

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 22, 2023 at 11:40 am

      That's great to hear Silvia 🙂

      Reply
  4. Daniela says

    March 19, 2023 at 2:43 pm

    5 stars
    The homemade Reuben Dressing really takes this wild cod fish reuben sandwich to the next level. Easy to make and so filling! Will for sure make again

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 22, 2023 at 11:39 am

      So glad you enjoyed my recipe Daniela! I agree that the homemade dressing is delicious.

      Reply
  5. Mikayla says

    March 17, 2023 at 10:01 pm

    5 stars
    I followed every step and the sandwiches were to die for, I perfect lunch time treat for the weekend!

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 19, 2023 at 10:49 am

      Thanks awesome Mikayla! I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe.

      Reply
  6. Amanda says

    March 17, 2023 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    I always make my Reuben sandwiches with corned beef but am such a fish fan that I had to try this. The cod was so, so good! Thanks for such a fun twist one of my favorites. Great for St. Patrick's Day.

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 19, 2023 at 10:50 am

      You're welcome Amanda!

      Reply
  7. Marta says

    March 13, 2023 at 9:28 pm

    5 stars
    My husband is a Reuben fanatic and we all love cod, so this recipe was a match made in heaven for us. We really enjoyed it and the Russian dressing was so easy to make!

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      March 14, 2023 at 2:57 pm

      We love Reubens in our house too! This version is our new favorite. I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe.

      Reply
Amy Casey at a cooking demonstration.

I'm Amy Casey and welcome to Amy Casey Cooks! I have a lifelong love of food and 20 years experience as a personal chef while cooking for over 300 clients. I share my tested, tried and true easy recipes, cooking and kitchen tips, and videos so you can make restaurant quality meals in your own kitchen. More about my culinary journey.

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