Allow me to confess right at the start – this is not your grandfather’s Reuben sandwich.

The legendary Reuben of yore was built on corned beef, but I swap that out in favor of smoked salmon. And while I hold fast to the classic version’s melted cheese, I lose the untoasted rye bread in favor of a grilled panini. Unorthodox? Guilty as charged. Scrumptious anyway? See for yourself.

Of course, the idea to begin with was – somehow – to lighten up the Reuben, a sandwich that explodes with flavor as you eat it, but then sits in your gut like a rock for days afterward.