Best Pastrami Turkey Breast For The Best Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwiches Recipes

TURKEY PASTRAMI

Steps:

• For the brine: In a large pot, combine the 3 quarts hot water, the brown sugar and kosher salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Remove from the heat and pour in the 3 quarts ice water. Add the bay leaves, garlic, thyme, black peppercorns, cloves and juniper berries. Cool the brine down to 42 degrees F, then add the turkey breasts. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
• For the dry rub: Mix together the ground juniper berries, black peppercorns and coriander seeds. Remove the turkey from the brine and wipe off the spices before drying with paper towels. Rub the dry rub onto the breasts, with more of the dry rub on the skin side. Double wrap the turkey breasts in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Preheat a smoker with mesquite chips for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the turkey breasts, skin-side down, on the racks. Smoke until the breasts reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, about 3 1/2 hours for a large breast.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Transfer the turkey breasts to a roasting pan and cover with aluminum foil. Roast until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap the roasting pan in plastic wrap and chill overnight before slicing for serving.

TURKEY PASTRAMI

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine water, sugar and spices. Heat until sugar and salt are dissolved. Cool. When cool, place turkey breast and brine in a 1 gallon resealable bag. Double the bag and place in shallow pan in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. (Just in case of leaking, check occasionally.)
• After desired brine time, remove breast from brine and rinse well. Dry breast well and prepare rub.
• Pulse all in a spice grinder or food processor
• Apply rub to breast, cover tightly and refrigerate for 24 hours
• Take a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil (about 2 feet long) fold in half, fold in half again and fold the edges up on 1 half, think of creating a small pizza box.
• Soak the chips submerged in water for 15 minutes, while chips are soaking, raise oven rack to position 4-inches below broiler. Preheat broiler on high. Drain chips, place in bottom, folded section of foil, bending the top back out of the way. Broil for 5 minutes, stir chips, broil 2 more minutes, remove and immediately and carefully, fold "top" over bottom and crimp closed. Place in oven and poke a several holes in top with knife to release smoke.
• Remove turkey from refrigeration. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Roast in oven, breast side down for 1 hour, increase heat to 325 degrees F if convection, 350 degrees F if standard oven. Carefully turn over and continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
• Cover loosely, cool and thinly slice.

PASTRAMI-STYLE GRILLED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Coarsely grind coriander seeds, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Place turkey on a large rimmed baking sheet and rub all over with oil and sprinkle cavity and all over outside with salt, then do the same with spice mixture. Let sit at room temperature at least 1 hour, or cover and chill up to 12 hours.
• If chilled, let sit at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
• If using a charcoal grill, fill a chimney with charcoal and light. Once coals are covered with ash, spread half on each side of grill, leaving center empty. Set top grate on grill. If using smoking chips, scatter a handful evenly over coals. Place turkey on center of grate (do not allow any part of turkey to extend over coals). Cover grill. Insert an instant-read thermometer into hole in hood. Cook turkey, scattering a handful of chips evenly over coals every 20 minutes and rotating turkey every 30 minutes for even browning (lift grate with turkey on it and rotate 180°F each time), until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast without touching bone registers 150°F, 75-90 minutes. Maintain grill temperature as close as possible to 350°F throughout process, opening vents to increase temperature and closing vents to reduce it and adding more charcoal as needed. Transfer turkey to a cutting board and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving.
• If using oven, preheat to 425°F. Place turkey on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, rotating baking sheet once, until skin is golden brown and most of fat in skin has rendered, 35-45 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250°F and continue to roast turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast without touching bone registers 150°F, about 45-60 minutes longer. Transfer turkey to a cutting board and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

BEST THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS SANDWICH

Steps:

• Grease a 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with butter, then line it with parchment paper, covering the bottom and 2 sides with one sheet, creasing it into the corners to ensure a snug fit. If the stuffing is cold, warm it in the microwave for 1 minute or covered in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
• Put the stuffing into the prepared pan and press into an even layer using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Top with a sheet of parchment and press firmly with your hands, tightly compacting the stuffing. If you have a second pan of the same size, use that to pack down the stuffing. Cover and chill overnight.
• The next day, prepare your sandwich fillings: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and cranberry sauce. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine the shredded dark-meat turkey and the gravy. Gently heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until warmed through, about 5 minutes.
• In a large nonstick skillet or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-high, warm the oil until hot and shimmering. (The stuffing needs to be cooked hot and fast, or it will stick to the skillet and fall apart.) Meanwhile, remove the stuffing from the pan by lifting the parchment overhang, and cut the stuffing into four squares.
• Cook stuffing until browned and crisp on one side, gently pressing it down using the base of the baking pan you chilled it in, about 1 minute. Using a flat spatula, quickly flip each piece of stuffing. Cook the other side until browned and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.
• In the same skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat until foamy. Add the sliced turkey breast, flipping occasionally until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Assemble the sandwiches: Evenly spread 2 tablespoons of cranberry mayonnaise on 1 side of each slice of bread. Divide the buttery sliced turkey over the 4 slices of bread. Divide half the assorted leftovers on top of the white meat, then top each with a slab of crisp stuffing.
• On top of the crisp stuffing, evenly divide the gravy-dressed dark meat and the remaining assorted leftovers. Top with remaining mayo-slathered bread. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut each sandwich on the diagonal and serve right away.

TURKEY PASTRAMI ON PUMPERNICKEL

Steps:

• For the brine: In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil all ingredients except the turkey. Simmer until sugar and salt are dissolved. Let cool completely. Double a one gallon re-sealable bag and fill with brine. Add turkey, seal bags and place in a shallow pan in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. (Just in case of leaking, check occasionally.) Remove breast from brine and rinse and dry well.
• For the rub: Pulse all the ingredients in a spice grinder or food processor until it becomes a coarse paste. Rub mixture all over turkey breast. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate resting in a bowl for 24 hours.
• To cook: Soak the chips submerged in water for 15 minutes. Place oven rack to position 4 inches below broiler. Preheat broiler on high. Drain chips and place in a 2 pound aluminum loaf pan. Broil the chips for 5 minutes, stir broil another 2 minutes. Remove to lower third of oven. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place turkey skin side up in a pan fitted with a roasting rack. Place oven rack used to broil the chips in to the center of oven and roast turkey above smoking chips for one hour.
• Increase the heat to 325 degrees F if convection, 350 degrees F if standard oven. Carefully turn over and continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, another 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Remove turkey from oven. Cover loosely with foil and cool.
• To make the sandwich: Slice pastrami very thin. Toast bread. Spread mayonnaise on 1 piece, layer pastrami, onions, tomato and lettuce on top. Spread mustard on the other piece of toast. Place on top and cut it in half diagonally. Repeat with remaining ingredients.