HOMEMADE PASTRAMI (SALLYE)

*** NOTE: You need to buy the packaged corned beef that has already has been cured and has spice packet. If you prefer to brine your own, see step 2 below.....

Corned Beef Brine Recipe
Ingredients
8 cups water or 6 cups water and 2 cups lager beer
1 1/2 cups Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon curing salt
1/4 cup corned beef spice
1 tablespoon garlic powder
6-8 pound beef brisket
Preparation Instructions
Brine:
Pour 2 cups warm water into large deep roasting pan. Add salt, sugar and curing salt and stir until dissolved. Add remaining 6 cups of liquid and mix in the corned beef spice and garlic. Submerge the brisket in the liquid, then top with heavy platter to weigh down. This is important, the brisket must be completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate for two weeks. Stir the mixture about every three days. This will aid in even flavoring of the brisket. Then follow steps 2 through 8 to make pastrami.

Mix garlic and oil in a small bowl.(You can buy garlic flavored olive oil, but I don't think it gives you the full flavor)

Set aside for one hour.i

Combine pepper and all other spices (including the spices from the packet that comes with the beef) in a large bowl and set aside.`

Place a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil on clean counter or cutting board.

Coat the foil with prepared garlic oil

Lay corned beef on foil and brush with remaining garlic oil

Cover all sides of brisket completely with pepper and spice mixture, reserving 1 or 2 tablespoons.

Place brisket fat side up back on foil sheet and wrap tightly in the foil, make sure foil piece is large enough to completely encase the brisket and overlap

Place wrapped brisket on another sheet of foil with the seam and fat side down

Wrap with this sheet of foil snugly

Do this several times (at least 3 more) reversing the seam each wrap

Be sure each wrap is tight so spicy juices won't escape or pastrami will be dry

Place brisket in baking pan and cook in preheated 225º oven for 6 hours

Remove from oven and set pan on rack, leaving aluminum wrap intact

Cool at room temperature for about 3 hours

After 3 hours, place still wrapped pastrami in heavy duty plastic bag and set in fridge overnight (at least 10 hours)

When ready to serve, preheat oven broiler

Unwrap pastrami and place on baking sheet lined with foil

Sprinkle reserved pepper mix over pastrami

Place in oven about 6-8 inches from broiler

Broil for 3 or 4 minutes to brown

Remove from oven and place on serving platter

Cut into thin slices

Preheat heavy skillet over low heat

Heat pastrami slices in skillet with a few drops of water until fat begins to turn from white to translucent (about 5 minutes)

Good luck and good eating.