Sept 26 2016
Being from Ohio I never had a taste of pastrami until I was 18 and stationed at the Homestead AFB in Florida. A small deli there served pastrami on rye sandwiches and they were delicious. Then after getting married and living in Wapakoneta there was a Jewish Deli in Lima Ohio that had great pastrami on rye sandwiches, then they went out of business. My wife usually had a Rueben.
After I got my smoker and joined LTBBQ Hub had a recipe for EZ Pastrami starting with a corned beef brisket and I have made quite a few of them; it shortens up the process with good results.
I watched a lot of TV shows about NYC Deli pastrami and brisket sandwiches; like Katz the most famous I think. Those sandwiches looked delicious with melt in your mouth pastrami. I wanted to duplicate them, how do you do that if you never tasted them? Well I can imagine what they must taste like!
I read all I could about them and the secret had to be steaming after smoking. Some smoke them for 10 to 12 hours and then steam for 3 hours. I recently bought a 6 quart Instant Pot 6 in 1 electric pressure cooker. I knew I could easily steam a 3 to 4 pound brisket flat in it. I wasn’t sure how steaming under pressure would work.
I got my pastrami cold from the fridge in the steamer and set for 60 minutes. I checked after that and was surprised the IT was at 185 deg. I set it for another 35 minutes of steam the IT was at 211 deg. and after resting for 35 minutes I sliced it and made our sandwiches. I fixed my wife a Rueben with just sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on lightly toasted rye bread. I just had mine with some mustard. Our side was some Bob Even’s double cheddar pasta with Applewood smoked bacon. It’s easy and about as good as any I can make!
The pastrami was moist and very tender; as good as I could imagine would come from a NYC Deli! I think this is my go to recipe for pastrami and want to try a plain brisket this way too.
Wife's Rueben
My supper
Smokin Don
Recipe
Easy Pastrami smoked and steamed
3-4 lb Corned Beef Brisket
2 TBSP Coarse-ground black pepper
1 TBSP Ground Coriander seeds
1Tsp. Garlic powder
1 Tsp. Onion powder
You will need a 6 quart Instant Pot to steam it or make your own stove top steamer.
Wash brisket thoroughly and soak overnight in water (refrigerated) for 1 to 2 days to remove excess saltiness. Change the water several times. When finished soaking, dry the brisket with paper towels and rub with well-mixed dry ingredients listed above.
Wrap brisket well with plastic wrap; I used 3 layers. Place in the fridge over night or two nights, I did two nights and turned 4 times.
Smoke your favorite way to an IT of 185 deg. I did my 3.6 pound brisket flat on my Traeger pellet grill. I did 3 hours at 190 deg. inserted my temp probe and was at 135 deg. IT. I upped the temp to get 235 deg. at grill level until it stalled at 154 deg. about six hours in.
I double wrapped it in heavy duty foil and back on the smoker and went to 245 deg. grill level. You may want to place in a foil pan in case the foil leaks, you won’t lose all that juice. After you foil you can move to an indoor oven if you want to save on pellets.
Mine was in for about a total of 7 ½ hours to get to an IT of 185 deg. I let mine cool and then in the fridge overnight. I steamed it the next day.
I was unsure of how long to steam with my Instant Pot and no recipes to follow. I was starting with a cold brisket from the fridge. I planned to do it for an hour and check the temp. I added two cups of water and the steam insert. I placed the foil wrapped brisket on the steam insert. I locked the lid and went to “Steam Mode” Normal and set the timer for 60 minutes. When the time was up I manually released the steam and checked the temp. it was 185 deg. I checked and had plenty of water left so set it to steam another 35 minutes. When done the IT was 211 deg. I was looking for about 205.
Next time I will just steam for 1 hour 20 to 30 minutes and that should be good.
I let it cool down on its own for 10 minutes, removed from the pot and opened the foil, let rest another 10 minutes. Placed the pastrami on my cutting board and let rest 10 minutes then sliced and served. It was I think and the wife did too, the best pastrami I have done.
I always heard about NYC Deli style pastrami and brisket and wanted to duplicate it but that’s hard when you have never had NYC Deli pastrami! Well I did see them make and slice on TV so I could imagine how it must taste!
I had help with this cook from Hub of LTBBQ who first gave me the idea of EZ Pastrami starting with a corned beef brisket, I read all that Meathead of Amazing Ribs had to say about Kratz Deli Pastrami and help from Girl Carnivore blog.