Another 1st Pastrami thread with HEAVY QUE VIEW

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navigator

Meat Mopper
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Oct 11, 2007
167
139
Ashland, WI
First off thanks to Chef Willie, dls1 and many others for the inspiration and procedures I used.

Picked up 2 corned beef flats, 3.5 & 3.75 lbs.


Soaked them in cold water for 30 hours, changing it several times.


Rinsed and dried.


Oiled with some olive oil and rubbed with:

4 T fresh coarsely ground black pepper

1 T yellow mustard powder

1 T dark brown sugar

1 T sweet paprika

2 T granulated garlic 

2 T granulated onion 

2 T Kosher Salt

4 T Spice House Corned Beef Spice Mix**

½ T ground celery seed

**Was specifically designed for marinating beef brisket. Use 3-5 tablespoons for a 5-pound brisket, along with salt brine. This is a popular blend for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Hand-mixed from mustard seeds, Moroccan coriander, Jamaican allspice, Zanzibar cloves, Turkish bay leaves, Indian dill seed, China #1 ginger, star anise, black pepper, juniper berries, mace and cayenne red pepper.


Vacuum sealed and let it rest in the fridge for 24 hours.


Put in the FEC-120 at 160º with AMNPS Tube for 3 hours.

They had to share the smoke with some pastrami jerky and turkey wings.


Then upped the temp to 230º for 2 more hours.


untill the IT hit 152º then foiled and coolered untill IT hit 160º


Then it went into the fridge overnight.

Steamed it on a rack above beef broth & crab boil.


Steamed untill the Thermapen probe slid in how I call "slicing easy" in all areas (not as easily as I would have on a packer brisket) the temps were in the 195-200º range, it took 1.5 hours.


Sliced some a little thicker for dinner.


Sliced the rest thin for sandwiches.


Vacuum sealed the leftovers.


It turned out great, although I never had real deli pastrami before so I had nothing to compare to other than grocery store lunch meat pastrami and this blew that away. Will for sure make it again, might have to watch the newspaper and see who has it on sale after St. Patty's Day and stock up for another batch.
 
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That looks Great...I was curious about the Texture? I too have Points that are labeled...Tenderized with Papain...A meat tenderizing Enzyme in Papaya. Not a big deal on hot and fast Steaks but can turn low and slow cooked meat into Mush! Alton Brown demos this effect by slow braising Pork with Papaya, the whole deal looks like Lumpy Pudding after a couple hours...JJ
 
The texture was great, I sliced it hot and it stayed together and was tender. THe only example I can think of is that it was firmer than a tri-tip sliced the same thicknesses.
 
Looks great, Excellent results. Congrats. I seriously doubt that you'll be buying the lunch meat counter pastrami anymore. Kind of like bacon, isn't it? Once you've made your own with good results it's hard to go back to the crap from the store.

I seasoned and smoked the same yesterday with similar spices and temps as yours, and will steam it later today for St. Pat's dinner. I'm also braising a specially seasoned CB in root vegetables today so the guests can mix it up.

For as long as I have been making my own pastrami I've always steamed it to finish over seasoned beef stock, but I've never used crab boil. Do you think it added much to the finished product?

 
 
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I dipped a couple slices into the broth and then it definitely  added to the party :)

I am going to try steaming other stuff to warm it in the slow cooker, it was super easy and it would have to turn out better than reheating in the microwave.
 
Now that you have made your own....you will never go back to the deli!

Looks amazing!

Kat
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Thx for the mention....looks like u did a superb job....some interesting twists with that Spice House rub and the vac sealing for the rest. Those points don't appear any fattier than flats after cooking. Again, good job
 
Wow, that looks great!! Nicely done Navigator. The Spice House has some fantastic rubs and blends. Love their Brisket of Love and Back of the Yards blends. Going to have to try your mixture next pastrami smoke.
 
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