Pastrami is an extremely popular type of cured meat originating from Turkey. Pastrami is popular amongst Americans because it is flavorful, yet low in calories and fat, with only 41 calories in a 1-ounce serving. You can easily make pastrami at home with an easy-to-follow recipe. If not, there are many artisan stores that will ship you these delicious treats. Instead of eating pastrami as-is, you can incorporate this delicious ingredient into your lunch in the following 3 ways.

Enjoy a Hearty Pastrami Sandwich

If you're looking to make a lunch that will really fill you up, you can't go wrong with a traditional pastrami sandwich. Although you can add many different types of fillings into your sandwich, traditional pastrami sandwiches are served with rye bread with Russian dressing on the side. You can add lettuce, thinly sliced pickles, thinly sliced red onions and several slices of cheese in your sandwich. If you're going to add cheese, you should consider heating up the sandwich before you eat it, so that the cheese will be melted.

For an extra punch of flavor, don't forget to add a dollop of mustard or mayonnaise in the sandwich. These condiments really put the sandwich together. To be honest, you can easily make a hearty pastrami sandwich with any ingredients you have at home. Don't hesitate to throw in different types of vegetables. Go crazy! You'll be surprised at how filling a pastrami sandwich can be. It's definitely not a light lunch.

Try the Delicate Flavors Hidden with a Pastrami Benedict

If you're more interested in sitting down for a more luxurious brunch experience, you'll be surprised at just how delicious a pastrami Benedict can taste. Pastrami Benedicts were first made popular through Nick Zukin and Michael Zusman's "The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home". While Nick owns a deli, Michael is a deli enthusiast. Ever since their rendition of a pastrami Benedict has made its debut, many other professional chefs and food enthusiasts have come up with similar recipes. There's no reason why you can't do the same. 

Without going into too many details, a Pastrami Benedict is ridiculously easy to make. All you need is hollandaise sauce, latkes--to substitute for bread--and pastrami. Once again, you can easily add in any other ingredients that you may have lying around in your kitchen. If you don't have any latkes around or if you don't have time to make it, you can use bread or some type of bun. 

A Side of Pastrami in the Form of a Hash

Now, if having pastrami as the star of your lunch seems a little extreme, you might consider incorporating it into side dishes. In particular, you'll find pastrami hash to be ridiculously easy to make, yet delicious. The saltiness of the pastrami will eliminate your need to add salt. In addition, the pastrami adds a smoky taste to the hash that will definitely enhance the flavors that are already present.

To make pastrami hash, fry up some potato slices and then add in some spices and herbs, like garlic, rosemary or thyme. Next, toss in the pastrami, and you're basically good to go. Just make sure that the pastrami is at least warm before you serve the hash. 

Conclusion

Although you can eat pastrami as-is, you can also incorporate this cured meat into many dishes with ease. The smokiness and saltiness of the pastrami will enhance flavors that are already present and will help add that extra zing you've been looking for into the recipe. There are many places that you can get pastrami from. If you can't find pastrami at your local deli, you can always look online. There are many variations and assortments available that will stimulate your taste buds.