Pastrami And Rye Berry Salad Recipes

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.

PASTRAMI AND RYE PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F with the rack in the middle. Put the onion in a bowl and cover with 1 to 2 cups of cold water. Swish the water around and rub the slices with your hands. Strain and repeat the process two or three times, letting the slices soak and changing the water at 10-minute intervals. (Soaking raw onion in cold water mellows the harsh bite.)
• Meanwhile, spread out the bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake until the edges are crispy and golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• On a cutting board, finely chop the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using both the blade and the flat side of a chef's knife, chop and scrape the mixture into a paste. Put the oil and vinegar into a bowl, add the garlic paste and whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooled bread, tomatoes and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine, gently pressing the tomatoes a bit to release some of the juices.
• Peel the cucumbers in a zebra pattern and cut on a diagonal into half moons. Drain and pat dry the onions. Add the onions, cucumber, celery, basil leaves, pastrami and parsley leaves to the salad. Whisk together the dressing, add it to the salad and gently toss to combine.

PASTRAMI RUBBED SMOKED BOAR WITH GRILLED RYE AND QUICK PICKLE SALAD

Steps:

• Set the wild boar strip loins on the counter for 30 minutes before cooking to allow the chill to come off.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Make the pastrami rub by stirring together the salt, pepper, celery seeds, coriander seeds, garlic powder, mustard seeds and paprika in a mixing bowl. Rub both sides of the loins with the mustard, then loosely sprinkle the pastrami rub on the loins (don't rub it in). Insert a meat thermometer into the side of 1 loin.
• Set up a smoker on your stove top by adding the wood chips to the bottom of a foil-lined 4-inch-deep hotel pan. Turn on the heat and allow the wood chips to light, then allow some of the smoke to burn off, about 5 minutes. Place a 2-inch-deep perforated hotel pan on top. Add the loins and cover the pan with foil. Transfer the smoker to the oven and cook until the internal temperature of the loin is 125 degrees F, about 20 minutes.
• Place a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat and add the 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place the loins in the pan and sear on one side until deeply golden brown and crusty, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and butter. When the butter has melted and starts to foam, baste the loins with it. Flip the loins and sear the other side, 2 to 3 minutes more, continuing to baste with the butter. Transfer the loins to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
• To serve, slice the loins and top with the Grilled Rye and Quick Pickle Salad. Spoon some of the extra dressing over the top and finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
• Place the jalapeños, Fresno chiles and shallots in a glass jar and pack them in tightly. Combine the rice wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, 1/2 cup water, the sugar, peppercorns, garlic, bay leaf and 1 tablespoon salt in a nonreactive saucepan and bring to a gentle boil, whisking until the sugar and salt dissolve. Strain the hot liquid into the glass jar until the jalapeños, Fresno chiles and shallots are completely submerged, then set aside for at least 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Place the rye bread slices on the pan and toast on both sides until slightly charred. Tear the bread into rustic chunks and set aside.
• Make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, honey, mustard, lime juice and salt to taste in a small bowl. In a medium bowl, toss together the celery leaves, grilled bread and drained pickled jalapeños, Fresno chiles and shallots. Right before serving, add some of the dressing (reserving the extra) and toss to coat.

PASTRAMI ON RYE

Steps:

• Butter both slices of bread and toast until golden.
• Spread mustard on both slices.
• Warm pastrami in a hot skillet until heated through.
• Pile on top of one slice of the bread and carefully close the sandwich.
• To make a cold pastrami sandwich, skip buttering and toasting the bread and place meat cold on the sandwich.