I'm Adding Jeff Goldblum's 4-Ingredient Sandwich to My Lunch Rotation

Jeff Goldblum is a wholesome national treasure. I thought he was pretty cool when I gleefully watched Jurassic Park as a kid, but recently he stole my heart when I saw him giddily rave about sandwiches on Reddit. He wrote, “Oooooooooh. SANDWICH. OH MY GOSH. Oh my gosh. I love sandwiches.” Then he listed three of his favorite sandwiches, one of which caught my eye: “...turkey and Swiss [cheese] with Russian dressing."

Making Goldblum’s four-ingredient turkey sandwich drenched in Russian dressing was a cinch. And gosh, it was so delicious! I usually prefer prosciutto or ham in my sandwiches because they have more flavor. However, the turkey deli slices worked perfectly here as a backdrop to the more dominant flavors of the cheese and the dressing.

What Exactly Is Russian Dressing?

Although I grew up in South Brooklyn, fully immersed in Russian American culture thanks to having Russian friends and coworkers, I had no idea what the heck Russian dressing was.

As it turns out, Russian dressing, often confused with Thousand Island dressing, is an American creation. In the past, it may have included caviar, a Russian staple. These days, it is ketchup and mayonnaise-based. Sometimes, it also includes chili, herbs, horseradish, and spices, and I can see why people confuse it with Thousand Island dressing—the two are very similar in color, texture, and taste. The key difference is that Russian dressing tends to carry a bit of heat and spice, whereas Thousand Island dressing is sweeter.

If you buy Russian dressing from the supermarket, it often comes red, almost like a thinner ketchup, without mayonnaise. I bought Wish-Bone Russian dressing, though you can also find creamy versions from lesser-known brands. If you make your Russian dressing at home, however, don't skip the mayonnaise, as it adds a nice creaminess. Once you have gathered your ingredients, Goldblum’s sandwich comes together in a minute or two.

How To Prepare Jeff Goldblum's Turkey Sandwich

Atop a slice of sourdough bread, I added a slice of Swiss cheese, a slice of turkey, then another slice of cheese, and a final slice of turkey. You can fold the turkey slices if you like. I slathered a generous teaspoon of Russian dressing over the turkey and completed the sandwich with a second slice of bread.

One bite, and I raised my eyebrows, quickly going for a second. The sandwich was refreshing, thanks to the sweet, spicy tang from the dressing, the saltiness of the turkey, and the nutty, slightly buttery flavor of the Swiss cheese. Oooooooooh. SANDWICH. OH MY GOSH, indeed! My family and I now have another favorite sandwich in our lunch rotation.

As a recipe developer and cookbook author, I had to add my spin to this sandwich. I had ripe avocados in my pantry, so I added slices of avocado to the sandwich for color, fiber, and creaminess. And since Wish-Bone’s Russian dressing is not creamy, I mixed in some Kewpie mayo.

Other ways to elevate the sandwich include toasting the bread first, buttering the bread, or turning the entire sandwich into a panini or grilled cheese. For those who love greens, feel free to add some lettuce or baby kale to the sandwich. And, playing up the spice in the Russian dressing, a drizzle of chili crisp or a squirt of sriracha would do wonders, too.