Pastrami - Definition and Overview

Pastrami is a popular deli meat made from beef brisket. The uncooked meat is pickled in a brine solution, similarly to corned beef, then smoked and typically encrusted with peppercorns. Pastrami is commonly eaten sliced as part of a sandwich.

As with corned beef, pastrami was created as a method for preserving meat from spoilage in an age before modern refrigeration methods. This technique is now unnecessary, but its unique flavor still attracts many aficionados worldwide.

The etymology is from Romanian Pastramă, probably from the verb "a păstra" (to preserve, to keep), being brought to English via Yiddish. The English ending "-mi" was influenced by salami. Another theory asserts that it is a variant of Turkish pastirma.

See also

• Smoked meat
• New York style bagel