Mini Pastrami Packages Recipes

MINI PASTRAMI SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Mash 1 stick softened butter with 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon each chopped parsley and rosemary and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Thinly slice a sourdough baguette; spread the herbed butter on one side of each slice. Flip over half of the bread slices and spread with Thousand Island dressing. Top with sliced pastrami, cornichons and provolone; cover with the remaining baguette slices, buttered-side up. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until golden, about 4 minutes per side.

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.

MINI PASTRAMI PACKAGES

Steps:

• Layer 4-5 sheets of phyllo brushing butter between each sheet. Cut into 6 squares.
• Place about 1-2 teaspoons of cream cheese and about 1-2 TBS of the pastrami in the center of each square. These measurements are not exact -- you may put more or less in depending on the exact size of the square and your ability to fold & seal it.
• Fold the ends and corners of each square over into the center, brush some extra butter on bottom and top to seal, and place folded side down on a baking sheet.
• Repeat steps 1-3 until ingredients are gone or until you've made the desired amount.
• Bake at 375°F for about 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Serve hot with some spicy or stone ground mustard to dip.
• You can make these ahead and freeze. Thaw and re-heat in the oven.

PASTRAMI FOOTBALL FINGER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the shredded cheese, peppers, mayonnaise, mustard and pepper in a medium bowl.
• Stack 4 slices of the bread on a cutting board. Using a knife or 2 1/2-inch round cutter, trim the bread into football shapes, save the trimmings for another use. Continue with the remaining bread.
• Lay the bread slices on a rimmed baking sheet and brush with the melted butter. Place in oven and toast until crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Spread about 1 tablespoon of the pepper cheese mixture on the bread. Top with some pastrami, a pickle and another slice of bread.
• To make the laces, cut the cheese into 16 long strips. Cut each strip into 1 long and 3 short pieces. Lay the long strip lengthwise on the sandwich, and then the 3 short strips crosswise to make the laces. Repeat with all the strips. Put the sandwiches back into the oven for 2 minutes to set the cheese laces. Secure the sandwiches with a toothpick and serve.

PASTRAMI SANDWICHES WITH ONION RINGS AND QUICK PICKLES

Steps:

• Combine the salt, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pickling spice, mustard seeds, pink curing salt, garlic and 1 tablespoon coriander in a large pot. Add 3 quarts water. Bring to a simmer and cook to dissolve the sugar and salt. Add 3 quarts cold water. Let cool to room temperature. Add the brisket, then weigh down with a plate and cover the pot. Refrigerate for 3 days. (If your refrigerator is too small to hold the pot, you can cut the brisket in half and refrigerate in 2 smaller containers as well.)
• When you are ready to cook the brisket, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Arrange a rack in a roasting pan. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Coarsely crush the peppercorns and the remaining 1/4 cup coriander seeds in a spice grinder. Pour into a small bowl and stir in the smoked paprika. Remove the meat from the brine and rinse briefly. Pat dry. Pat the spice mixture all over and set the meat in the roasting pan, fat side up. Pour the boiling water in the bottom of the pan (don't let it touch the meat). Cover the roasting pan tightly with foil. Roast until the meat is very tender, about 3 hours. Carefully remove the foil and roast 10 more minutes to dry out the crust slightly.
• Slice the warm pastrami. Serve on rye bread with deli mustard and Onion Rings and Pickles on the side. (This pastrami can also be made ahead. To reheat, thinly slice and set over a steamer, or microwave covered with a damp paper towel.)
• Heat 1 inch oil in a pan to 350 degrees F.
• Set the flour in a bowl, eggs in a second bowl, and combine the panko and regular breadcrumbs in a third. Dredge the onions in the flour first, followed by the eggs and finally the breadcrumbs, then pan-fry until golden brown, a few minutes on each side. Remove to a rack to drain and stay crispy and season with salt.
• Combine the vinegar, salt, mustard seeds, granulated sugar, peppercorns, garlic and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Layer the cucumbers, chiles and dill sprigs in a jar or other lidded container. Bring the vinegar mixture to a simmer and stir to dissolve the salt and sugar. Pour over the cucumbers. Let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. (The pickles will keep a week or more in the refrigerator.)

EASY HOMEMADE PASTRAMI

Steps:

• Mix garlic and vegetable oil in a small bowl. Set aside for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
• Combine black pepper, paprika, coriander, dry mustard, white pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Cover a baking sheet with a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Coat aluminum foil with prepared garlic oil. Lay corned beef brisket on foil and brush with remaining garlic oil.
• Cover all sides of corned beef brisket completely with pepper mixture, reserving 1 to 2 tablespoons.
• With fat side of corned beef brisket up, wrap in the sheet of aluminum foil. Place wrapped corned beef on another sheet of aluminum foil with the seam and fat side down. Place double-wrapped corned beef on a third sheet of aluminum foil (seam down), and wrap again.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 6 hours.
• Remove pastrami from the oven and let cool to room temperature, about 3 hours.
• With pastrami still wrapped in aluminum foil, place in a freezer bag or other plastic bag and refrigerate for 8 to 10 hours.
• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Remove pastrami from refrigerator, unwrap, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of remaining pepper mixture.
• Place pastrami in the oven, 6 to 8 inches below broiler heat. Broil briefly to brown surface, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pastrami from the oven and slice thinly, about 1/8-inch slices.
• Heat a large skillet over low heat.
• Heat pastrami slices in the skillet with a few drops of water until fat begins to turn from white to translucent, about 5 minutes.