Best Pastrami Cured Salmon Recipes

PASTRAMI SALMON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce to simmer and parboil potatoes until they begin to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a foil-lined pan, toss with 1 tbsp oil and salt and pepper to taste; arrange in a single layer and bake until fork-tender and golden brown, turning once, 30 minutes.
• Place peppercorns and coriander on a paper towel lined cutting board. Using the bottom of a heavy pot, press down until they crack; set aside. In a large, ovensafe pan over medium-high heat, heat remaining 1 tsp oil. Cook salmon, turning once, until browned, 2 minutes per side; remove from heat.
• In a bowl, combine molasses, salt, paprika and cayenne; brush onto both sides of salmon and sprinkle with crushed spices. Bake salmon until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with potatoes tossed with parsley.

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.

PASTRAMI-CURED SALMON

Steps:

• Three days before you want to serve the salmon, put it, skin-side down, in a rimmed dish. Combine the salt and sugar, then set aside.
• Fry the coriander seeds, ground coriander, caraway seeds and peppercorns in a small dry frying pan set over a medium heat for 2-3 mins. Tip into a spice grinder or small food processor along with the bay, and blitz until finely ground. Stir the spice mixture into the salt and sugar mix. Pat the spiced salt mixture all over and around the salmon so it's well packed onto the flesh. Wrap tightly in cling film, then set a plate or board and something heavy (such as a couple of cans) on top to weigh the fish down. Chill for 48 hrs.
• Heat the paprika, cayenne and black treacle in a pan until loosened, then remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly until just warm. Brush the excess salt off the salmon and rinse the fish under cold running water. Pat dry with kitchen paper, then transfer to a clean dish. Brush with the warm treacle mixture until well coated (you may need to generously brush the fish several times before the coating covers the fish well), then wrap in a fresh sheet of cling film. Chill for another 24 hrs.
• When you're ready to serve, set the salmon on a board and thinly slice with a sharp knife, avoiding the layer of skin at the bottom. Serve with soft cheese, rye bread or bagels, pickles and some chopped dill for everyone to help themselves.

PASTRAMI SALMON

Steps:

• Place salmon on a platter. In a bowl, combine salt, sugar and one tablespoon of the cracked pepper. Mix well, and coat both sides of the salmon with mixture.
• In a food processor combine coriander, parsley and shallots. Puree until smooth but not watery. Coat both sides of salmon with mixture.
• Cover, and refrigerate salmon for 2 to 3 days.
• Scrape marinade from fish, and discard. Dry fish with paper towels.
• In a saucepan, combine molasses, cayenne and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, and simmer for one minute. Allow molasses mixture to cool slightly. Using a brush, paint fish on both sides with the mixture.
• Sprinkle paprika, coriander, 2 tablespoons of the ground black pepper and the cracked pepper on both sides of fish. Refrigerate salmon overnight.
• Cut salmon widthwise on a bias into thin slices. Serve with mustard oil and rye toast

SALMON PASTRAMI

Steps:

• Split fish crosswise into 2 equal pieces, and remove the bones. Wash, and wipe the skin. Combine salt, sugar, 1 tablespoon peppercorns and 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, and sprinkle over flesh side of fish.
• Place the two halves' flesh sides together. Place in an enamel or glass container, and cover tightly. Place a brick or other heavy weight on the salmon and refrigerate for three or four days, turning occasionally.
• Coarsely grind remaining peppercorns, coriander seeds and mustard seeds. Scrape salt mixture off the fish, and sprinkle with ground mixture, lightly pressing into the flesh. The salmon can be refrigerated at this point. To serve, slice salmon very thinly, and serve with lemon wedges and light toast, if desired.