Dry Cure Pastrami Recipes

HOMEMADE PASTRAMI RUB RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine all of these ingredients together into a bowl until you have an even blend.
• Transfer the contents to an air-tight container so that you can preserve the seasonings' flavors for as long as possible.

DRY CURE PASTRAMI RECIPE

Steps:

• NOTES TRIM MEAT AND WEIGH, THIS IS WHAT YOU BASE YOUR MEASUREMENTS ON USE A KITCHEN SCALE, MEASURE AND MIX CURE TOGETHER. APPLY ½ TO MEAT COATING COMPLETELY , PLACE MEAT INTO TUPPERWARE CONTAINER AND INTO FRIDGE LET STAND IN FRIDGE FOR TWO DAYS.. REMOVE FROM FRIDGE AND CONTAINER APPLY REST OF CURE COATING THE MEAT AGAIN . THEN BACK INTO CONTAINER AND FRIDGE, TOTAL CURE TIME IS 7 TO 9 DAYS FROM FIRST APPLICATION OF CURE. AT THE END OF THE LAST DAY OF CURE,,, PULL MEAT AND RINSE,, LET DRY AND PREPARE RUB,, APPLY RUB TO THE MEAT AND BACK INTO FRIDGE OVER HIGHT, SMOKE. NO MORE THEN 4 HR, @ 225, STOP SMOKE AND COOK TILL AN I.T OF 155 F

HOME-CURED BEEF PASTRAMI

Steps:

• In pot large enough to hold brisket, combine 1 gallon/4 liters of water with kosher salt, sugar, sodium nitrite (if using), garlic and 2 tablespoons pickling spice. Bring to a simmer, stirring until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled. Place brisket in brine, weighted with a plate to keep it submerged; cover. Refrigerate for 2 days if it's thin, a third day if it's thick. Remove brisket from brine and rinse thoroughly. Refrigerate it for another day uncover. So this is what I do when I want both smoke and long slow cooking. I smoke the meat for a couple hours. Then I transfer it to a 200 to 250 degree oven to finish. With this pastrami, I would cook it in the oven for 30 to 60 minutes to bake the smoke on, and then cover it with foil and 1/2 cup of water and cook it for another 2 to 4 hours till it's tender (the water is to make sure there's plenty of steam).

ARMENIAN BASTERMA (DRIED CURED BEEF)

Steps:

• Select very tender cut of beef from rib part, about one and a half inch thick, any length you desire (approx. 8").
• Insert heavy string through one end and make a loop.
• Rub meat with salt and let stand in refrigerator for 3 days placing a heavy item on top and turn once a day.
• Wash meat well with cold water and leave in clear water for one hour.
• Then drain and press between towels to remove moisture.
• Continue until meat is quite dry.
• Hang in cool airy place to dry about two weeks.
• Combine all above ingredients to make the Chairnen.
• Add water a little at a time to make thick paste.
• Soak meat in it for 2 weeks.
• Hang in airy place for 2 more weeks.
• May be used immediately, refrigerated, or frozen.
• NOTE: A cheese cloth casing may be used to slip meat into before hanging.

PRIMETIME PASTRAMI

Steps:

• For the brine: In a large stockpot, add half of the water, the brown sugar, kosher salt, curing salt, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, juniper berries, chile flakes, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon and star anise and bring to a boil. Then simmer for 30 minutes. Add the remaining water with some ice to chill the brine.
• For the rub: Grind the peppercorns, coriander and juniper until crushed but still a little chunky. Add to a mixing bowl. Add the salt, brown sugar, chile flakes and granulated garlic and stir to combine.
• For the pastrami: First, clean all the fat off the brisket including the "V" between the two muscles, then follow the fat between the two muscles and separate them making a flat and a cap.
• Transfer the brine to a large hotel pan or roasting pan. Add the brisket and refrigerate at least 5 days and no more than 10 days. Make sure the brisket is stirred once a day to get an evenly brined brisket.
• After a minimum of 5 days, prepare a smoker for 225 degrees F.
• Remove the pastrami, rinse it and blot dry with paper towels. Thoroughly rub the brined brisket with the pastrami rub. Place in smoker and cook for 8 hours until the internal temperature reaches 210 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.

VENISON PASTRAMI

Steps:

• Whisk together curing mixture, brown sugar, pepper, paprika, bay leaf, allspice, and garlic powder in a bowl. Rub mixture over venison roast, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Place roast in a bowl; refrigerate for 5 days.
• Remove roast from the refrigerator and rinse thoroughly to remove the curing mixture. Place in a bowl with water to cover, and soak, refrigerated, for 2 hours. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Season roast with additional black pepper and brown sugar, and place in a roasting pan.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until a meat thermometer inserted near the center reads 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), about 2 hours.