I make Meathead's recipe for Katz's Pastrami several times a year. My family and friends love it and polish off a 4-5 pound pastrami in only a few sittings! Its a great thing to cook for a party.
The only problem I've ever encountered (problem is probably a bit too strong a word) is the steaming process. It takes about 3 hours to steam it, and the steamer needs to be refilled with water often to keep it from boiling dry. I used a Chinese bamboo steamer over a wok and got distracted. The wok burned dry, the steamer became completely singed and had to be thrown out.
On a visit to a good oriental market in my neighborhood, I discovered a relatively inexpensive stainless steel steamer, designed for dumplings, veggies, etc. Its large, wide, and holds a 4-5 pound pastrami perfectly. They're also available in all-aluminum. but I decided to spend a few extra bucks since I make this all the time. It's available on Amazon and I can recommend it highly! It's a bit of an investment at $56, but can be used for a lot of other work. It will hold enough water for at least 1-hour of steaming before it needs to be refilled, and it's super easy to remove the top piece in order to pour in boiling water.
If there are any other chefs out there who have had a problem with making pastrami because it was so difficult to steam such a large piece of meat, this is the tool you need. And making your own pastrami, especially Meathead's version of Katz's wonderful pastrami, is worth the effort!
The only problem I've ever encountered (problem is probably a bit too strong a word) is the steaming process. It takes about 3 hours to steam it, and the steamer needs to be refilled with water often to keep it from boiling dry. I used a Chinese bamboo steamer over a wok and got distracted. The wok burned dry, the steamer became completely singed and had to be thrown out.
On a visit to a good oriental market in my neighborhood, I discovered a relatively inexpensive stainless steel steamer, designed for dumplings, veggies, etc. Its large, wide, and holds a 4-5 pound pastrami perfectly. They're also available in all-aluminum. but I decided to spend a few extra bucks since I make this all the time. It's available on Amazon and I can recommend it highly! It's a bit of an investment at $56, but can be used for a lot of other work. It will hold enough water for at least 1-hour of steaming before it needs to be refilled, and it's super easy to remove the top piece in order to pour in boiling water.
If there are any other chefs out there who have had a problem with making pastrami because it was so difficult to steam such a large piece of meat, this is the tool you need. And making your own pastrami, especially Meathead's version of Katz's wonderful pastrami, is worth the effort!
Comment