Coleslaw & Swiss Melt Sandwich

This coleslaw and Swiss cheese sandwich might just be the best sandwich ever. Topped with creamy Russian vinaigrette, it’s delicious.

OK, ready for an insanely delicious sandwich? Maybe our best sandwich ever? Or at least one of our best vegetarian recipes because everyone, we repeat, all whoever tries it loves it. According to Alex: it tastes like a healthy version of a Big Mac! What makes this Coleslaw Swiss Fondue Sandwich so flavorful and delicious? Start with our best coleslaw ever. Add a melty cheese on a salty pretzel bun. What makes it supreme is our secret sauce: Russian dressing, the main ingredient in a Reuben sandwich. are you ready to eat Let’s go.

Related: 15 easy vegetarian meal ideas

The inspiration: the Swiss fondant sandwich

Before we start, a little more about where this coleslaw and Swiss cheese sandwich came from. Alex and I attended a wedding in Ann Arbor, Michigan this summer. And what we heard about Ann Arbor, Michigan was one thing. Well, a few things. But one of the most important was: Go to Zingerman. This upscale grocery store has been around for years (actually since 1982) and people rave to this topic. So of course Alex and I wanted to try it ourselves. We tried to go there during the day but the line was literally out the door. (Another sign that this place was legit).

So after the wedding we ordered takeaway instead! Imagine being in our hotel lobby, our wedding attire rumpled and anxiously awaiting our Zingerman’s sandwiches. I had such a sandwich (#36 if you want to know!) and my god it was heaven on earth. I LOVE Reuben sandwiches, and this one had the vibe of a Reuben using Swiss cheese and coleslaw instead. And of course that addictive Russian dressing. Stacked on delicious fresh rye bread, it was toasted and felt like biting into a little slice of heaven. So yes, go to Zingerman.

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How to make this Swiss fondue sandwich

If you’re a keen observer, you may have heard of the Rachel sandwich. A Rachel sandwich is like a Reuben sandwich, but it uses turkey instead of corned beef and coleslaw instead of sauerkraut. So this coleslaw Swiss cast iron sandwich is basically a veggie Rachel sandwich! Also known as the best sandwich ever. Here are the ingredients of this Swiss cheese sandwich that make it so delicious:

• Russian dressing. This sauce really is one of our favorite dishes. It’s so, so flavorful, with just the right balance of savory and sweet. (And kinda tastes like that secret Big Mac sauce.)
• The best coleslaw ever. To make this coleslaw sandwich, we also created a new “better” coleslaw recipe! Alex and I love creamy coleslaw, so the dressing uses less than regular no-refined-sugar mayonnaise, which tastes perfectly creamy and balanced. You can also use our red cabbage salad.
• Toasted pretzel bread. How can you not love the salty richness of a pretzel bun? It’s perfect for a filling vegetarian sandwich, but you can of course also use bread.
• Swiss cheese. Here we have decided on the grill method: simply grill this cheese directly on the pretzel bread. It’s easier than the standard stovetop grilled cheese method (although we’ve added it below in case you want to do it with rye bread).

It all comes together in one of our best sandwich recipes. Although there are two mayonnaise components in this one, you’ll only use a small portion of each: a little is enough! And if you’re vegan, use vegan mayonnaise and opt for vegan cheese (there are some really good brands of vegan cheese). Let us know if you try this one: we’d love to know in the comments below!

Looking for vegetarian sandwich recipes?

Aside from this melted Swiss sandwich, here are a few other veggie sandwiches that we love:

This recipe is…

This coleslaw and Swiss cheese sandwich is vegetarian. For gluten-free bread, use gluten-free bread. For vegans, plant-based and dairy-free, opt for vegan mayo and vegan cheese.