Trim the outer fat from the brisket block, leaving only about 0.5cm thickness for a clean finish.
In a pot, combine water, salt, black sugar, pickling salt, essential spices (whole black pepper, coriander seeds, mustard seeds), and optional spices, then bring to a boil until all ingredients are fully dissolved.
Mix the hot brine with cold water to cool it down completely to below 30 degrees Celsius, then transfer the meat into a container so it is fully submerged, sealing tightly with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 7 days, turning the meat over once every two days to ensure even seasoning.
Place whole black pepper, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, paprika powder, and black sugar into a blender and grind just enough to keep the texture slightly coarse—this creates the barbecue rub.
After 7 days, remove the brined meat and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove surface spices, then pat dry to remove moisture.
Evenly spread yellow mustard on all sides of the meat to act as adhesive, then generously apply the prepared rub, covering the entire surface without gaps.
Place the meat on a grilling tray with the fat side facing up, and roast in an oven preheated to 110 degrees Celsius until the internal temperature reaches 68 degrees Celsius—about 3 hours for the first stage.
Remove the meat and wrap it double with aluminum foil to prevent juice loss, then re-roast in a 150-degree Celsius oven until the internal temperature reaches 95 degrees Celsius—the final step.
Prepare the brisket by trimming fat and boiling a spice-infused brine, then cooling it completely.
Submerge the meat in the cooled brine and refrigerate for 7 days, then rinse under cold water.
Coat the meat evenly with mustard and the coarsely ground spice rub, then roast in stages in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 95 degrees Celsius.
Cooking tips 💡
Pickling salt is recommended in a small amount (10g) to achieve the signature reddish hue, deep flavor, and enhanced preservation typical of homemade ham.
For precise timing during long oven cooking, use a probe thermometer that measures internal temperature in real time.
The finished pastrami tastes best when sliced as thinly as possible and served on rye bread with yellow mustard and sauerkraut, perfectly capturing the authentic New York sandwich experience.
Striker Chef's One-Pan White Ragu Pasta
A deep and rich white ragu pasta made in one pan without complicated steps, using mushroom soup.