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Beef Pastrami

Beef pastrami is an iconic specialty, particularly associated with New York delicatessens. However, its history begins much earlier, in Eastern Europe.

The origins in Eastern Europe

The word "pastrami" comes from the Romanian word pastramn, which refers to meat preserved by salting, smoking, and drying. These techniques existed as early as the Middle Ages in the Balkans and Romania. They were used to preserve meat before the invention of the refrigerator and were influenced by the traditions of the Turkish and Ottoman peoples.
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Arrival in the United States

At the end of the 19th century, many Ashkenazi Jews immigrated to the United States, particularly to New York. They brought their traditional recipes with them. In America, beef was more plentiful and brisket was inexpensive. As a result, pastrami became primarily made with beef

The birth of New York pastrami

Between 1880 and 1900, Jewish butchers in New York adapted the traditional recipe. The main steps were:

- Slow brining with salt and spices
- Coating with pepper and coriander
- Steaming

This process produces tender, juicy, and very flavorful meat. Sussman Volk was one of the first to popularize this product in Manhattan.

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The golden age of delicatessens

Between the 1920s and 1950s, Jewish delicatessens became very popular. Famous establishments emerged:

- Katz's Delicatessen (1888)
- Carnegie Deli (1937)

The "pastrami on rye with mustard" sandwich is becoming a culinary icon.

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Global distribution and modernization

After World War II, pastrami spread throughout America, then to the rest of the world. Today, there are artisanal, industrial, and reinvented versions (turkey, duck, vegetarian).
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Difference with corned beef

Pastrami is often confused with corned beef

Corned beef

- Brine
- Unsmoked
- Mildly spiced
- Boiled

Pastrami

- Cured and smoked
- Very spicy
- Steamed

Pastrami is therefore more aromatic.

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Conclusion

Beef pastrami originated in Eastern Europe, was processed in New York, and has since become a global product.
It represents a legacy of immigration, preservation techniques, and Jewish culture.