Easy PASTRAMI Tutorial, Part 2

[MisterChrister]

2 weeks ago, I brined/spiced 2 rump roasts for pastrami and corned beef. I opted for the nitrate/nitrite-free approach which only sacrifices the pink/red color of corned beef/pastrami, but the flavor and tenderness remain unchanged. The 1st thread is here http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=145936 . The corned beef thread is here http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=146735

For the pastrami, it's a snap. I took the corned beef rump roast from brine, rinsed it off, and soaked it for 30 hours in cold water in the fridge, changing the water 3 times to draw the extra salt back out. (you can also start here with the soaking step with a purchased raw corned beef brisket)



Then I dried it off well with paper towels, rubbed it with some olive oil (many spices are fat-soluble and give off better flavor in the presence of oil), then covered it well with the pastrami rub. I merged a few recipes and came up with this: 4 tbsp coarse ground black pepper, 2 tsp coarse ground coriander, 1 tsp dry mustard, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp chicago steak seasoning.


Then it gets tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 8-24 hours or more (mine was 16 hours) for the seasonings to melt their flavor into the meat.



I smoked it indirect with apple chunks at 275-300 for 4 hours or an approximate IT of 150-ish.




Then I put it on a wire rack in a tented foil-covered pan with beef broth in the bottom to steam for approximately 2 hours until 180-200 IT depending on which cut you use. You don't want the liquid touching the meat or it will wash off your crust and boil the meat. Also try to tent the foil up and off of the meat.




Then let it rest a bit, and slice against the grain and eat warm, or cool and slice and eat later if you are more patient than me!



And a little bit with some of the pan broth



DANG is it GOOD!!! The rest is sliced and resting in the fridge for sammies tomorrow This is SO easy, you CAN do it!!
Thanks for lookin' at my cookin'!!

[code3rrt]

That looks absolutely fabulous! Nice cook!

[samfsu]

Very nice. You definitely opened up my eyes to a corned beef and pastrami that isn't brisket. I'm gonna try this soon.

[Big George's BBQ]

That looks Great What is the difference in taste between the rump roast and brisket Thought con beef/pastrami is done with brisket

[MisterChrister]

Originally Posted by Big George's BBQ

That looks Great What is the difference in taste between the rump roast and brisket Thought con beef/pastrami is done with brisket

You're right, brisket is generally used/preferred for corned beef/pastrami. It has more fat content which helps alot in tenderness/etc. Commercial deli corned beef and pastrami is made quite often from round cuts though, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer to have used brisket, but we don't buy beef (we get a steer a year from my inlaws), and our briskets were long gone. The tenderness was good thanks to a 2 week brine and patience with the smoking/steaming. I've also done this with chuck/arm roasts with decent results too. I'd rather do this with rumps than make pot roast for sure! I also think they make decent jerky which I hope to do more of soon.

[J-Rod]

Looks really delicious. Now all you need is a meat slicer!

[Big George's BBQ]

Hope you do more too Like looking at your pics

[MisterChrister]

Originally Posted by J-Rod

Looks really delicious. Now all you need is a meat slicer!

Amen to that brother! I've been hoping to find a gently used one for a little bit of nothing. These sloppy thick cuts are killing me!