Southwest Wraps

My wife and I took a little day trip over to Springfield, Ohio. We love visiting the Heart of Ohio Antique Center. It’s one of our favorite antique malls. And although there’s a nice little cafe in the mall, we decided to pack a lunch. Besides some Kaw-Cajun 4 bean salad and chips, I made a few of these southwest wraps. They’re the perfect picnic: spicy, tasty, and different than the usual boring sandwich. Tomatoes, black beans, corn, cilantro, turkey, habanero cheese and spicy Ranch dressing, all inside a habanero wrap. Definitely not boring.

Southwest Wraps

The Dressing Makes These Wonderful

The spicy Ranch dressing I made for these Southwest wraps is really great stuff. I also use it on sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs. It definitely has a little kick. I keep a batch in a squeeze bottle in the fridge. It’s perfect for any time I want something with a little bite.

Also try my crab salad wraps.

Southwest Wraps
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Southwest Wraps

Make these for perfect picnic: spicy, tasty, and different than the usual boring sandwich.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword southwestern, wraps
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 98kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Spicy Ranch Dressing (you’ll have plenty leftover for other dishes)

For the wraps

  • 1 15 ounce black beans rinsed, drained
  • 1 14 ounce sweet corn drained
  • 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
  • ½ red onion chopped
  • 8 habanero wraps
  • Turkey sandwich meat
  • lettuce red or green leaf
  • Spicy Ranch dressing
  • Habanero cheese slices

Instructions

For the Spicy Ranch Dressing

  • Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the wraps

  • Combine the beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro and onion in a bowl and mix gently.
  • Lay out the wraps. Assemble the wraps by stacking the ingredients on one half of the wrap so you can then roll it up.
  • Add the sandwich meat first, This will help keep the wrap from getting soggy.
  • Add the lettuce and a tablespoon or so of the dressing.
  • Spoon on a few tablespoons of the bean and corn mixture.
  • Add the cheese and roll up the wrap.

Notes

Refrigerate wraps until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I’ve made a lot of snack mixes in my time. Traditional ones. Sweet ones. Savory ones. Sour cream and onion ones. Cajun ones. Italian-ish ones. And now, this most awesome spicy Tex-Mex party mix. Quick and easy to make.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

Bold. And Crunchy.

I really prefer our homemade taco seasoning in this spicy Tex-Mex party mix over the store bought stuff in the little packets, and not just because it’s so much cheaper to make. When you make the seasoning from scratch you can control how fine or coarse it is. For this party mix I wanted a little texture from the seasoning so I didn’t grind it for very long. There’s a lot of big things in the bowl. I didn’t want the seasoning to get lost in there.

You can also substitute your favorite Chex cereal for the cereal. Or use a combination of your favorite ones!

Also try my southwestern snack mix. Less kick, great flavor.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix
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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I’ve made a lot of snack mixes in my time. Traditional ones. Sweet ones. Savory ones. Sour cream and onion ones. Cajun ones. Italian-ish ones. And now, this most awesome spicy Tex-Mex party mix. Quick and easy to make.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Southwestern
Keyword Chex mix, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 464kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cup peanuts roasted
  • 2 ½ cup pretzels
  • 3 cups corn chips
  • 3 cups mini shredded wheat cereal not frosted Or, substitute Corn Chex cereal.
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 packet taco seasoning

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Place peanuts, pretzels, corn chips and shredded wheat cereal into a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the butter over the snack mix and fold to coat.
  • Sprinkle with taco seasoning and mix to coat.
  • Spread out on a baking sheet (or two) and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Let cool and serve.

Notes

Store in an air-tight container. Use your favorite snack bites.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 575mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Spicy Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Rigate

I have been a diehard fan of Chile Pepper magazine for years. Despite what the name might suggest to you, it’s not a magazine about over-the-top way-too-hot peppers and foods and sauces. Instead, it has a variety of recipes and articles, catering not only to chile heads, but also people that just want a little kick to their foods. Everything I have made from the magazine has turned out absolutely fantastic. They aren’t playing around. Grab yourself a copy off the news-stand or order a subscription online. Or do what I did and have a subscription for years. And years. And make some of their great recipes like this spicy sausage and sun-dried tomato penne rigate.

Spicy Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Rigate

A Plate Of Spicy Happiness

This spicy sausage and sun-dried tomato penne rigate dish is creamy, with just a little heat, thanks to spicy sausage, red pepper flake and hot cheese. The original recipe used sliced chicken breast, but I went with chicken sausage for a little more spice. Any chicken would work in this dish, though.

The sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach add a great twist to what would be a great meal by itself. This doesn’t take long to make and will wow your guests with great flavors.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this dish and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Also try my easy-to-make but still awesome spicy sausage and pasta.

Spicy Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Rigate
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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Rigate

This sausage and pasta dish is creamy, with just a little heat, thanks to spicy sausage, red pepper flake and hot cheese. The original recipe used sliced chicken breast, but I went with chicken sausage for a little more spice. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword pasta, sausage, spicy, sun-dried tomato
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 703kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook pasta per package instructions. When done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain and reserve the pasta.
  • Drain the sun-dried tomatoes but save the oil. Chop or slice the tomatoes.
  • In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the sun-dried tomato oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion, and mushrooms and cook until they start to soften, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook another minute.
  • Add the sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Cook, stirring often, until the spinach wilts. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
  • Add another tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil to the skillet. Add the sausage and cook until done and lightly browned. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  • Reduce heat to medium and add the cream and shredded cheese. Bring to a gentle boil then reduce heat to simmer. Stir until the cheese is melted.
  • Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir.
  • Add the red pepper flakes, cooked vegetables and sausage. Stir.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes. If mixture is too thick add a bit more of the reserved pasta water and stir.
  • Serve garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Use your favorite sausage.

Nutrition

Calories: 703kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 1065mg | Potassium: 559mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3312IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 417mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders

If you want to see something disappear off the plate in mere seconds, make these chicken chorizo patty melt sliders. They are tender, juicy, spicy. And even though you could also make these into full-sized burger versions, they’re great as sliders. Make a slider party platter, half chicken sliders and half beef! The Mexican chorizo does add just a bit of a kick, a bit of spiciness. But I think you’ll be ok serving them to even the most spice-sensitive guests. If you’re worried about the the heat, substitute ground Italian sausage instead.

Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders

Great Party Treats

You could make the patties ahead of time and assemble these chicken chorizo patty melt sliders just in time to serve for a party. I topped these little yummy bites with our slow-cooker caramelized onions. I can make a big batch of caramelized onions in no time with almost no effort. Just keep them warm until time to assemble the sliders. You can serve them cold, and they’re still good, but they’re definitely better warmer.

I use this nifty little ole burger press to make these burgers. It’s the best thing ever for stuffing burgers with just about anything you can think of!

This recipe is based on a recipe from Sunny Anderson.

Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders
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Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders

If you want to see something disappear off the plate in mere seconds, make these chicken chorizo patty melt sliders.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, sliders, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 223kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken, chorizo, garlic, oregano and salt. Form into 2-3 ounce patties.
  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Cook the patties about 3 minutes per side until lightly charred and cooked through.
  • Form sandwiches by placing cheese on bun bottoms, followed by the patties and onions.
  • Serve with a little ketchup on the side for dipping.

Notes

Substitute any cheese you like!

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This broccoli cauliflower salad could be the easiest salad I’ve ever made. And it’s so good that I’ve made it 3 times in the last 2 weeks. It has a nice fresh crunch. And a little creaminess. And just enough smoky bacon flavor to make you really happy.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Perfect Bacon, Every Time

I bake my bacon at 400 F on a foil-lined baking sheet for 20 or so minutes, depending on the thickness and how crunchy I want it to be, turning once. Easy clean up. You can drain off the grease for later use or let it cool and just wrap the foil up and toss it. No mess, no fuss. And the bacon is cooked perfectly, ready to go into a batch of broccoli cauliflower salad!

I’ve also made this salad a few times for road trips. It really holds up well to travelling.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my delicious marinated vegetable salad and my tangy broccoli salad.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
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Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This broccoli cauliflower salad could be the easiest salad I’ve ever made. And it’s so good that I’ve made it 3 times in the last 2 weeks.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli, cauliflower, salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 634kcal

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 2 cups cauliflower cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cups broccoli cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ cups celery chopped
  • 1 cup peas frozen, thawed
  • 1 ½ cups bacon cooked, chopped

For the dressing

Instructions

For the salad

  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

For the dressing

  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth.
  • Blend into the vegetables. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

You can omit the vinegar for a slightly creamier salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 634kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 793mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 386IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Choclo al Cumino

I am a big fan of choclo. It’s a corn from the Andes of Peru. It’s not like the sweet corn you normally find here in the US. In fact, it’s not sweet at all. The kernels are instead very large and very starchy, almost like hominy. This choclo al cumino really accentuates the unique flavor of the corn, with a hint of lime and cumin. It’s a fantastically fresh and light side dish.

Choclo al Cumino

Finding Choclo

You can find the choclo to make choclo al cumino in some South American specialty food stores. Usually it’s frozen and off the cob, but you can also find it on the cob. In Peru, it isn’t uncommon to find street vendors selling boiled choclo-on-the-cob, specially when you are in the Andes.

Another favorite choclo dish of mine (though not authentic Peruvian cuisine) is my choclo maque choux.

Choclo al Cumino
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Choclo al Cumino

I am a big fan of choclo. It’s a corn from the Andes of Peru. It’s not like the sweet corn you normally find here in the US. In fact, it’s not sweet at all. 
Course Side
Cuisine Peruvian
Keyword corn, Peruvian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 391kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add just enough water to cover the cobs or the lose kernels.
  • Add the corn and sugar and boil 3-5 minutes or until the kernels are tender. Drain. If using choclo-on-the-cob cut kernels from the cobs.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the corn, half of the cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir and heat through.
  • Squeeze the lime over the corn.
  • Serve sprinkled with the remaining cumin.

Notes

Serve with a few lime wedges in case anyone wants a bit more citrus flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 330mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1162IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Italian Grinders

My goodness, these Italian grinders were good. They’re so easy to make. The key is the tasty homemade marinara sauce. And fresh mozzarella. And crunchy bread. Ok, it’s all good. The same approach works great substituting meatballs for the ground meats, but we really liked them the way they were. After browning the meats I pulsed them a few times in a food processor to get a great fine texture. Not overly processed. Don’t go crazy on it.

Italian Grinders

These Italian grinders reminded me a bit of the Sloppy Joes I remember from my childhood, only done Italian style, and well, quite a bit tastier. I wouldn’t be afraid to add a few pepperoncinis to them either. Or some giardiniera.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make the meat mixture. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Also check out my Italian hoagies.

Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
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Italian Grinders

My goodness, these Italian grinders were good. They’re so easy to make. The key is the tasty homemade marinara sauce. And fresh mozzarella. And crunchy bread.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Italian, sandwich
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 1216kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Brown beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain.
  • Season with salt and pepper as desired. (I like to pulse the meats in a food processor a few times to get a nice consistent texture with no clumps)
  • Meanwhile, warm the marinara sauce in a small saucepan.
  • Spoon about 1 cup of meat into each roll.
  • Top meat with about 1/3 cup of marinara sauce.
  • Top sandwiches with a few slices of cheese.
  • Transfer sandwiches to sheet pans and place under the broiler until cheese is melted and rolls start to brown.

Notes

Serve with plenty of napkins.

Nutrition

Calories: 1216kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 67g | Fat: 86g | Saturated Fat: 36g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 256mg | Sodium: 2390mg | Potassium: 983mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1164IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 632mg | Iron: 16mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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“Cheater” Copycat KFC Twisters

I try to cook just about everything from scratch. But sometimes, that just doesn’t happen. But, even then I try to do something different. I could’ve just heated up some precooked frozen chicken strips, and had them with Ranch dressing and called it ‘good enough’. Or I could make these crazy good (no, really!) “cheater” copycat KFC Twisters. Heck, I’ve never had the real thing, but if they’re nearly as good as these homemade ones, I’d order some.

Cheater Copycat KFC Twisters

Choose your chicken

I made two different versions of these “cheater” copycat KFC Twisters: one with crispy chicken strips, and one with Buffalo chicken strips (my favorite). You can make other variations by dunking the strips into your favorite sauces. BBQ, Nashville hot chicken, garlic Parmesan…. You name it. Any sauce you like for dunking chicken nuggets or slathered on BBQ will work here

Yummy sauce

There’s nothing fancy going on here, but these were tasty. The Twister sauce is pretty darned good, and would make a great sauce for sandwiches or burgers. And the sauce is also mighty easy to make.

Why is it cheating?

So why do I refer to these as ‘cheater’? Because I used precooked chicken. If I’d made the chicken from scratch, they’d be the real deal. Nothing wrong with the un-real deal, though, sometimes.

If you prefer to skip the wrap and just make the chicken strips, you’ll want to serve them up with my copycat Chick-fil-A dipping sauce.

Cheater Copycat KFC Twisters
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Cheater Copycat KFC Twisters

Heck, I’ve never had the real thing, but if they’re nearly as good as these homemade ones, I’d order some.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken fingers, crispy, wraps
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 197kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For the KFC Twisters

  • frozen chicken strips
  • 4 tortillas 10 inch
  • Twister sauce see below
  • green leaf lettuce
  • 1 medium tomato chopped

For the Twister Sauce

Instructions

For the KFC Twisters

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Place chicken on a baking sheet and cook 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, warm the tortillas in a large skillet over medium heat, about 2 minutes per side.
  • Spread a 3″ wide strip of sauce across the middle of each tortilla, starting 1″ from the left edge and ending at the right edge.
  • Add the lettuce, tomato, and chicken over the center of the tortilla, over the sauce, still leaving the leftmost 1" edge empty.
  • Fold the left edge over and then roll up the tortilla. The right edge will remain open. Serve seam-side down so it doesn’t unrolled.

For the Twister Sauce

  • Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Nutritional values do not include the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 267IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Garlic Shrimp Packets

These garlic shrimp packets are the easiest way to cook a big batch of great shrimp quick. Perfectly garlicky, with a little red pepper kick. You really cannot find an easier way to make a big batch of super-tasty shrimp in no time at all. And cleanup could not get easier! Just toss your shells and tails into the foil, wad it up, and into the trash bin it goes! Done!

I made extra shrimp and had them the next day as shrimp cocktail. Fantastic! I could’ve eaten them all day long. The shrimp are packed with flavor, making them the idea appetizers too!

Garlic Shrimp Packets

The Best Soppin’

You gotta serve these with bread. You can’t let those juices go to waste. Nothing escaped the packets so there’s nothing but great flavors at the bottom. That means sopping. The perfect bread for sopping up the delicious yum-yum juice that pools at the bottom of the garlic shrimp packets is our favorite gotta-have-it garlic bread.

Also try my grilled hobo packets. They’re full all sorts of yummy things.

Garlic Shrimp Packets
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4 from 1 vote

Garlic Shrimp Packets

These garlic shrimp packets is the easiest way to cook a big batch of great shrimp quick. Perfectly garlicky, with a little red pepper kick. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword garlic, packets, shrimp
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 460kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the butter, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, red pepper and salt and pepper.
  • Add shrimp and toss well.
  • Divide shrimp mixture between two foil packets.
  • Fold over and close.
  • Place over direct heat on a lit grill and cook for 8 minutes.
  • Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

Also great dipped in cocktail sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 632mg | Sodium: 1784mg | Potassium: 441mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3245IU | Vitamin C: 79mg | Calcium: 397mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cheater Pastrami

I love the week around St. Patrick’s Day. Not because I’m Irish or love the color green. No, it’s because corned beef briskets go on sale. And every year, I buy a big load of them and make cheater pastrami on my smoker. The end result is tender and very flavorful. Perfect for sandwiches. Almost beyond perfect.

Cheater Pastrami

The Real Thing Takes A Lot Longer

So why is this approach called ‘cheating’? Well, real pastrami takes a long time to make. You don’t start with a corned beef brisket out of the grocer’s fridge. I’ve had the most amazing pastrami in New York City. Here in Indianapolis, the closest I’ve found is at Shapiro’s Delicatessen (though I’ve heard that Fat Dan’s Deli is also great). This cheater version isn’t as good, of course, but it’s actually quite fantastic. All my neighbors will back me up on that.

The Seasoning

I start out by rubbing corned beef in a mix of mustard, all spice, coriander and a lot of cracked pepper.

Cheater Pastrami

Overnight Marinating

The meat gets wrapped and goes into the fridge overnight to get ‘happy’.

Cheater Pastrami

Smoking

Then onto the smoker at 225 F for about 8 hours or until the internal temperatures reach 195-205 F. Let them rest then slice then and enjoy!

Cheater Pastrami

This recipe is a combination of a recipe I found on Patio Daddio and the technique on my favorite Weber Smoky-Mountain-related site, the Virtual Weber Bullet.

Cheater Pastrami
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5 from 1 vote

Cheater Pastrami

Perfect for sandwiches. Almost beyond perfect.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword corned beef, homemade, pastrami, smoked
Prep Time 8 hours
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 16 hours
Servings 1 pastrami
Calories 1997kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Note: I buy coriander seeds and whole peppercorns from the local GFS store and grind them using an old blade-style coffee grinder. Make sure you keep the grind a little coarse. You can also use a mortar and pestle.
  • Rinse and dry the corned beef.
  • Whisk together the mustard, brown sugar, coriander and allspice. Rub the mixture all over the brisket, then cover completely with the ground pepper. Place in a large resealable bag or wrap tightly in foil and keep in the fridge overnight.
  • The next day, fire up your smoker for 225-250 F. Place a chunk or two of light fruit wood in the smoker (I used cherry). Cook the brisket for at least 8 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 195 – 205 F.
  • Remove, wrap in foil, and let rest for 30 minutes.
  • Thinly slice the brisket against the grain using a meat slicer or sharp knife. Serve.

Notes

For long-term storage of the pastrami, slice and store in the freezer in vacuum-sealed bags. You can reheat the pastrami in hot water while in the bags before opening.

Nutrition

Calories: 1997kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 136g | Fat: 136g | Saturated Fat: 43g | Cholesterol: 486mg | Sodium: 11311mg | Potassium: 3055mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 173IU | Vitamin C: 245mg | Calcium: 223mg | Iron: 18mg

Nutritional values are approximate.