Homemade Pastrami

Though the brining and curing steps take several days, the active time is minimal. You mix up a brine. You make a rub. You smoke the brisket then press and refrigerate the meat overnight. Simple! Rye bread never had it so good.

• Ready In: 101 hrs
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1 (4 -5 lb)  beef brisket, flat fat trimmed to 1/4-inch
• 1  gallon water
• 6  garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
• 5  juniper berries, bruised or 1⁄4 cup  gin
• 3  bay leaves, broken into pieces
• 3⁄4 cup kosher salt
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons  morton's tenderquick  curing salt (optional)
• 1  tablespoon whole black peppercorn
• 5  allspice berries
• 3  tablespoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 3  tablespoons  coriander seeds
• 1  tablespoon yellow mustard seeds
• 2  bay leaves
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons sweet paprika
• 1  tablespoon kosher salt
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

1. 1. Make the brine: Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Stir in the garlic, juniper berries, bay leaves, salt, brown sugar, curing salt, if using, whole peppercorns, and allspice berries. Let cool completely, then immerse the meat. (Weight it down with a plate if necessary.) Refrigerate for 3 days.
2. 2. Make the rub: In a spice grinder or small food processor, combine the black pepper, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, and bay leaves. Pulse until coarsely ground. Stir in the brown sugar, paprika, cinnamon, and clove.
3. 3. Remove the meat from the brine and rinse under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle and pat the rub on the brisket. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
4. 4. When ready to cook, prepare your Smoker for 180 degrees.
5. 5. Remove the plastic wrap from the beef brisket and arrange on the grill grate. Smoke the meat for 3 to 4 hours. Wrap the brisket tightly in foil. Increase the temperature to 250 degrees, and continue to cook the brisket until the internal temperature is 175 degrees. Allow the brisket to cool to room temperature, leaving it in the foil. Transfer the brisket to a baking dish, and weight it with foil-covered bricks or cast iron skillets. Refrigerate overnight. Slice thinly against the grain for serving. (A meat slicer is preferred to a knife.).