CORNED BEEF ON RYE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SAUERKRAUT

Corned Beef on Rye with Caramelized Onions and Sauerkraut image

Yield Makes 4 sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 cups thinly sliced onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup drained sauerkraut
1/2 Granny Smith apple, grated coarse
3 tablespoons water
unsalted butter, softened, for buttering bread
8 large 1/2-inch-thick slices rye bread
1 large garlic clove, halved
1 large dill pickle, sliced paper-thin
3/4 pound thinly sliced chilled cooked corned beef (about half a cooked 3 1/2-pound corned beef; recipe follows)
1 cup coarsely grated Swiss cheese
mustard as an accompaniment
Corned beef:
a 3-to 4-pound corned beef brisket

Steps:

To prepare onions and sandwich:
In a large heavy skillet cook onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until golden. Stir in sauerkraut and apple and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Stir in water and salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a bowl. Mixture keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.
Preheat broiler.
Butter one side of bread slices. On a baking sheet set 4 inches from heat broil both side of bread until toasted lightly. Rub buttered side of each toast with garlic. Arrange 4 toasts, garlic side up, on a baking sheet and divide pickle and corned beef among them. Top beef with onion mixture and cheese and broil under broiler about 4 inches from heat until cheese is melted. Top sandwiches with remaining toasts, garlic side down, and halve.
Serve sandwiches with mustard.
To prepare the corned beef:
In a kettle combine beef with cold water to cover by 2 inches and bring water just to a boil, skimming froth. Simmer beef, covered, 3 hours, or until tender. Remove kettle from heat and let beef stand in cooking liquid 20 minutes. Transfer beef to work surface and trim fat. Use beef as part of a boiled dinner and/or for making corned beef on rye and/or corned beef hash. Corned beef keeps, covered and chilled, 4 days.