Pastrami: Difference between revisions
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The Romanian specialty was introduced to the United States in a wave of [[History of the Jews in Romania|Romanian Jewish]] immigration from [[Bessarabia]] and [[Romania]] in the second half of the 19th century, via the {{lang-yi|פּאַסטראָמע}} (pronounced ''pastróme''). Early references in English used the spelling "pastrama", closer to the Romanian original. The modified "pastrami" spelling was probably introduced in imitation of the Italian [[salami]].<ref>Harry G. Levine, "Pastrami Land, the Jewish Deli in New York City", [http://dragon.soc.qc.cuny.edu/Staff/levine/Pastrami-Land.pdf ''Contexts'', Summer 2007], p. 68</ref> |
The Romanian specialty was introduced to the United States in a wave of [[History of the Jews in Romania|Romanian Jewish]] immigration from [[Bessarabia]] and [[Romania]] in the second half of the 19th century, via the {{lang-yi|פּאַסטראָמע}} (pronounced ''pastróme''). Early references in English used the spelling "pastrama", closer to the Romanian original. The modified "pastrami" spelling was probably introduced in imitation of the Italian [[salami]].<ref>Harry G. Levine, "Pastrami Land, the Jewish Deli in New York City", [http://dragon.soc.qc.cuny.edu/Staff/levine/Pastrami-Land.pdf ''Contexts'', Summer 2007], p. 68</ref> |
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New York's Sussman Volk is generally credited with producing the first pastrami sandwich in 1887. Volk, a kosher butcher, claimed he got the recipe from a Romanian friend in exchange for storing the friend's luggage while the friend returned to Romania. According to his descendant, Patricia Volk, Volk prepared pastrami according to the recipe and served it on sandwiches out of his butcher shop. The sandwich was so popular that Volk converted the butcher shop into a restaurant to sell pastrami sandwiches.<ref>Henry Moscow, "The Book of New York Firsts", [http://books.google.com/books?id=0rvtSKaMA8wC&lpg=PA123&dq=pastrami%20sandwich%20origin&pg=PA123#v=onepage&q=pastrami%20sandwich%20origin&f=false], p. 123</ref> |
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Romanian Jews immigrated to New York as early as 1872. Among Jewish Romanians, [[goose]] breasts were commonly made into pastrami because they were inexpensive. Beef navels were cheaper than goose meat in America, so the Romanian Jews in America adapted their recipe and began to make the cheaper beef pastrami. |
Romanian Jews immigrated to New York as early as 1872. Among Jewish Romanians, [[goose]] breasts were commonly made into pastrami because they were inexpensive. Beef navels were cheaper than goose meat in America, so the Romanian Jews in America adapted their recipe and began to make the cheaper beef pastrami. |
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Revision as of 19:11, 29 June 2013
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Pastrami (Romanian: pastramă, Greek: παστουρμάς, Turkish: pastırma, Yiddish: פּאַסטראָמע pastróme), is a popular delicatessen meat usually made from beef in Turkey and also traditionally in Romania from pork and mutton. Like corned beef, pastrami was originally created as a way to preserve meat before modern refrigeration. For pastrami, the raw meat is brined, partly dried, seasoned with various herbs and spices, then smoked and steamed. In the United States, although beef plates are the traditional cut of meat for making pastrami, it is now common to see pastrami made from beef brisket, beef round, and turkey.
Etymology and origin
Both the dish and the word pastrami were borrowed from the Turkish "pastırma"[1][2][3] and have Romanian and Yiddish variations. Some sources claim an etymology from Romanian a păstra, 'to preserve'.[4]
The Romanian specialty was introduced to the United States in a wave of Romanian Jewish immigration from Bessarabia and Romania in the second half of the 19th century, via the Yiddish: פּאַסטראָמע (pronounced pastróme). Early references in English used the spelling "pastrama", closer to the Romanian original. The modified "pastrami" spelling was probably introduced in imitation of the Italian salami.[5]
New York's Sussman Volk is generally credited with producing the first pastrami sandwich in 1887. Volk, a kosher butcher, claimed he got the recipe from a Romanian friend in exchange for storing the friend's luggage while the friend returned to Romania. According to his descendant, Patricia Volk, Volk prepared pastrami according to the recipe and served it on sandwiches out of his butcher shop. The sandwich was so popular that Volk converted the butcher shop into a restaurant to sell pastrami sandwiches.[6]
Romanian Jews immigrated to New York as early as 1872. Among Jewish Romanians, goose breasts were commonly made into pastrami because they were inexpensive. Beef navels were cheaper than goose meat in America, so the Romanian Jews in America adapted their recipe and began to make the cheaper beef pastrami.
The Oxford English Dictionary's Etymology of pastrami, n.[7] quotes a 1914 advertisement from the Jewish Criterion (Pittsburgh)
- Sardines and pimentos‥.Pastrami‥. Rye bread [etc.]
Preparation and serving
Traditional New York pastrami is made from the navel end of the brisket.[8] It is cured in brine, coated with a mix of spices such as garlic, coriander, black pepper, paprika, cloves, allspice, and mustard seed,[9][10] and then smoked. Finally, the meat is steamed until the connective tissues within the meat break down into gelatin.
In North America, pastrami is typically sliced and served hot on rye bread, a classic New York deli sandwich (pastrami on rye), sometimes accompanied by coleslaw and Russian dressing. Pastrami and coleslaw are also combined in a Rachel sandwich, a variation of the popular Reuben sandwich that traditionally uses corned beef and sauerkraut.
At fast food stands in Los Angeles, pastrami is typically served hot on a French roll. Typically, the meat is served sliced very thin with some of the brine wetting the meat. Traditional accompaniments in Southern California include yellow mustard and pickles. Pastrami may also be used as a topping on hamburgers. Classic pastrami sandwiches are usually composed of hot pastrami right out of the steamer, sliced and layered on double-baked Jewish-style rye bread.
Greek immigrants to Salt Lake City in the early 1960s introduced a hamburger topped with pastrami and a special sauce. The pastrami burger has remained a staple of local burger chains in Utah.[11]
Variations
Turkey pastrami is made by processing turkey breast (pale pink) or thigh (dark pink) in a fashion similar to red meat pastrami, simulating the corresponding red meat deli product.
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd Edition, 2005, s.v. 'pastrami'
- ^ [1]
- ^ Dicţionarul explicativ al limbii române, Entry for Pastramă
- ^ Pastrami. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 2nd August 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com website: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pastrami
- ^ Harry G. Levine, "Pastrami Land, the Jewish Deli in New York City", Contexts, Summer 2007, p. 68
- ^ Henry Moscow, "The Book of New York Firsts", [2], p. 123
- ^ pastrami, n. Third edition, October 2008; online version November 2010
- ^ Gil Marks, "Encyclopedia of Jewish Food"
- ^ "Pastrami rub": seasoning for pastrami
- ^ Pastrami seasoning mix
- ^ Edge, John T. "Pastrami Meets the Patty in Utah" New York Times (July 28, 2009)
- Further reading
- Ursula Heinzelmann, "Rauchware aus der Querrippe" in Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (22 August 2010) p. 50 [paysite]