rtt121
Well-Known Member
I got into smoking meats a month or so ago... I have produced some really delicious meats so far. I think I am hooked.
Anywho... I am huge pastrami fan... so I started to research how I to make it yourself.. there is not a ton of information out there. I compiled some recipe's and set out to give it a shot.
I started with an 8 pound brisket flat with the fat cap still on. I had to ask for this special as the packages flats were all fully trimmed and then halved.
Trim the brisket to 1/8 inch fat cap. In some spots it was thicker when I got it, in some spots it was thinner. This took some time.
After that I dry rubbed the cure all over every inch of the meat. All the cureing recipes I could find used a product called Morton Tender Quick which has the necessary Sodium Nitrites and Nitrates. I could not find this stuff and did not want to order it online so I called around.. I found a product called sweeter than sweet that a local butcher used for curing hams.
Cure:
1/4 cup sweeter than sweet
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup fresh ground black pepper
2 tbsp granulated garlic
2 tbsp ground corriander.
I sanitized a homer bucket and lid and then dropped the cure rubbed brisket in the bucket and let it sit in my lagering fridge for 5 days (39 degrees). I opened the bucket and flipped the pastrami to be over once a day. I started the cure on friday... I smoked the pastrami on wednesday.
On "Brew" day. Remove the meat from the bucket and rinse rinse rinse. Get off any left over rub. After rub is removed place meat back into bucket and fill with cold water until submerged. I let it soak in this mixture one time for 45 minutes.
After the soak pat try with paper towells. Apply smoking rub.
Smoking Rub:
3 tbsp Ground Pepper
1 tbsp ground corriander
1 tbsp granulated garlic
I needed a bit more of this rub so I made a second batch of it.
From there it's just basic smoking. 225 until center hits 165 degrees (yes this is different than the cooking temperature of a non cured brisket). I used a combination of apple,oak, and hickory chips.
After the low and slow smoke (mine took about 6 hours), wrap the pastrami in 3 layers of tin foil and let rest for 2 hours.
Open and enjoy!!
Very delicious and far exceeded my own expectations. Pictures to come if there is any of it left! Next time I will take pics of the process.
This recipe was adapted from this website... which was the best source I could find.
Anywho... I am huge pastrami fan... so I started to research how I to make it yourself.. there is not a ton of information out there. I compiled some recipe's and set out to give it a shot.
I started with an 8 pound brisket flat with the fat cap still on. I had to ask for this special as the packages flats were all fully trimmed and then halved.
Trim the brisket to 1/8 inch fat cap. In some spots it was thicker when I got it, in some spots it was thinner. This took some time.
After that I dry rubbed the cure all over every inch of the meat. All the cureing recipes I could find used a product called Morton Tender Quick which has the necessary Sodium Nitrites and Nitrates. I could not find this stuff and did not want to order it online so I called around.. I found a product called sweeter than sweet that a local butcher used for curing hams.
Cure:
1/4 cup sweeter than sweet
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup fresh ground black pepper
2 tbsp granulated garlic
2 tbsp ground corriander.
I sanitized a homer bucket and lid and then dropped the cure rubbed brisket in the bucket and let it sit in my lagering fridge for 5 days (39 degrees). I opened the bucket and flipped the pastrami to be over once a day. I started the cure on friday... I smoked the pastrami on wednesday.
On "Brew" day. Remove the meat from the bucket and rinse rinse rinse. Get off any left over rub. After rub is removed place meat back into bucket and fill with cold water until submerged. I let it soak in this mixture one time for 45 minutes.
After the soak pat try with paper towells. Apply smoking rub.
Smoking Rub:
3 tbsp Ground Pepper
1 tbsp ground corriander
1 tbsp granulated garlic
I needed a bit more of this rub so I made a second batch of it.
From there it's just basic smoking. 225 until center hits 165 degrees (yes this is different than the cooking temperature of a non cured brisket). I used a combination of apple,oak, and hickory chips.
After the low and slow smoke (mine took about 6 hours), wrap the pastrami in 3 layers of tin foil and let rest for 2 hours.
Open and enjoy!!
Very delicious and far exceeded my own expectations. Pictures to come if there is any of it left! Next time I will take pics of the process.
This recipe was adapted from this website... which was the best source I could find.