Pastrami brine

A pastrami spice blend contains the distinctive flavours of pepper, coriander seeds, garlic powder and brown sugar, but can contain many other spices from recipe to recipe – mustard seeds and fennel seeds are common additions. Synonymous with beef brisket, which is gradually brined over five days to let the spices do their work, these flavours also go nicely with venison or even salmon. Making pastrami is more involved than just brining the meat. To learn about the whole process, visit our guide to making pastrami.