BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Recipe Discussions => Meat => Topic started by: LumpyDVC on July 25, 2010, 10:44:16 AM

Title: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: LumpyDVC on July 25, 2010, 10:44:16 AM
Hey All,

Just wanted to say Thank you for all your help. I've really taken to my
Bradley D6R smoker. Even the wife has come onboard.

My next project (Done Ribs, peanuts, chicken thighs) is going to be
Montreal Smoked Meat.

Anyone seen that episode on Diners Drive-ins & Dives of the fella in
Nebraska doing MSM?

Here is the reciepe from food networks site. Going to give it a try. Just
wondering if anyone else has tried it?

This is my first time using Prague/Insta Cure # 1 and brines in general.


Brewburger's - Old Fashioned (Montreal Smoked Meat)

Recipe courtesy Stephen Warren, General Manager at Brewburger's in
Omaha, NE

Ingredients

    * 1 (3 to 5-pound) brisket
   
Brine:

    * 1 gallon water
    * 6 ounces kosher salt
    * 2 ounces Prague powder
    * 2 ounces powdered dextrose
    * 2.5 ounces plus 4 tablespoons pickling spices, divided
    * Rye bread, for serving
    * Mustard, for serving

Directions

Place 1 brisket fat down in a pan. Completely submerge the brisket
with the brine.

Brine 2 days in the refrigerator. (On the show he said he brines for 5 days)

Remove the meat from the brine and rub the meat with 4 tablespoons
pickling spices.

Place the meat in a smoker for 2 hours with maple wood chips.

Remove from the smoker and place in a pan with 2 cups of water. Wrap
with aluminum foil. Place in the oven for 3 hours at 250 degrees F.

Remove from the oven, slice, and enjoy with rye bread and mustard.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down
from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens
chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore,
we cannot make any representation as to the results.


Wish me luck, I'll post phots as things progress.

Lumpy #2


Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: ArnieM on July 25, 2010, 12:42:53 PM
It sounds almost like a cross between corned beef and pastrami.

The amount of #1 sounds high.  The usual is one level teaspoon for 5 pounds of meat.

Oh well, good luck  :D
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: LumpyDVC on July 25, 2010, 12:55:24 PM
Ya pretty much a variant of pastrami.

The cure amount is a bit of a concern. I picked some up this week
and it says on the packaging "1tbsp per 10lbs of meat (for sausage
& jerky only)"

Everything I've read says 1 once = 2 tablespoons. So this reciepe is
calling for 4??? yikes.

Maybe I'll look for the bulk reciepe to verify.
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: Habanero Smoker on July 25, 2010, 01:23:24 PM
This is not meant to be a criticism, just an observation from my point of view. What I am seeing from the recipe in your post is a basic corned beef recipe, and the smoking/cooking technique will produce smoke corned beef. Your cure amount is within range for a wet cure (pickle/brine). I will use 1.5 - 3 ounce per gallon, depending on what I am curing.

A while back I did some research on Montreal Smoked Meat, and like most food items there doesn't seem to be a consensus on how to prepare it. The main discrepancy was whether it is cure or not cured. A few things that both versions had, was that the meat is marinated in red wine at some stage, wrapped with triple smoked bacon, and highly seasoned; prior to smoking.

Here is a recipe to a uncured version.
Montreal Smoked Meat (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?281-Montreal-Smoked-Meat&p=436#post436)
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: LumpyDVC on July 25, 2010, 04:48:50 PM
So?  ???

It's a variant of corned beef/Pastrami. We commonly call it Montreal Smoked Meat up here.

Just thought I'd give it a try, the end result looks exactly like what I get locally (Lester's Import).
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: Habanero Smoker on July 26, 2010, 02:20:47 AM
I don't want to describe it like that, because when I was researching it was like searching what is "real chilli"; people are very passionate about their version of Montreal Smoked Beef. Also when I was looking around for information, there was not much on the internet for this subject five years ago. I did learn that the major variations were regional.

Smoked corned beef is good. Beef pastrami is corned beef that is highly seasoned; that is what makes it distinct from corned beef that is seasoned lightly. Though most of us on this board smoke our beef pastrami, most pastrami is not smoked. Generally black pepper and coriander are the dominate flavors. In general (from what I learned) Montreal Smoked Meat may be cured or not. It is a highly seasoned with other spices to produce a different flavor, always smoked, and wrapped with triple smoked bacon before smoking.

The bottom line, if you like it; it is all "Good Eats".
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: LumpyDVC on July 30, 2010, 03:59:29 PM
So here are the results.

Brined for 5 days (Thats what they said on the show).
Smoked for 2 hours @ 130 with Maple.
Cooked for 3 hours in a tray with water @ 250.

Tastes excellent!! Almost all gone!

Brine for 5 days.
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/Lumpy69_2010/Montreal%20Smoked%20Meat/montrealsmoked01.jpg)

Out of the smoker. 2 hours of Maple @ 130.
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/Lumpy69_2010/Montreal%20Smoked%20Meat/montrealsmoked02.jpg)

Into the Pyrex with water. Foiled and into BBQ @ 250.
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/Lumpy69_2010/Montreal%20Smoked%20Meat/montrealsmoked03.jpg)

Out of the BBQ.
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/Lumpy69_2010/Montreal%20Smoked%20Meat/montrealsmoked04.jpg)

All sliced up. So tender!
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/Lumpy69_2010/Montreal%20Smoked%20Meat/montrealsmoked05.jpg)

Some rye bread and mustard. Into my tummy. num num num
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/Lumpy69_2010/Montreal%20Smoked%20Meat/montrealsmoked06.jpg)



Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: mow_delon on July 30, 2010, 04:11:48 PM
Yup, looks good no matter what you want to call it.  I still call my smoked deer loins pastrami just because the recipe I used was based off one that was for corned beef.  I don't really care what the "proper" name is all I know is that it tastes good.
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: monty on July 30, 2010, 05:43:31 PM
great lookin' Montreal Smoked Meat!
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: squirtthecat on July 30, 2010, 06:24:05 PM

Wow!
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: MechMedic130 on July 31, 2010, 06:11:30 AM
Wow, 5 days of brining? Was it salty?
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: LumpyDVC on July 31, 2010, 08:05:14 AM
A slight hint of saltiness, but nothing overwhelming. I hate salt and I could eat this all day.

Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: RAF128 on July 31, 2010, 09:31:04 AM
I've got an extra brisket in the freezer and have been saving it.    Look like I found something to do with it.
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: KyNola on July 31, 2010, 01:25:25 PM
You can call it whatever you want as far as I'm concerned.  I would SO be all over that.

Really nice work LDVC!
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: classicrockgriller on July 31, 2010, 03:26:34 PM
Smoked/Steamed pastrami/corned beef all in one easy process.

Congrats on talikg a chance and making some "Good Eats".
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: Smokin Soon on July 31, 2010, 08:15:56 PM
dang, that looks good! I could pound down a big one of thos right about now!  ;D
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: Habanero Smoker on August 02, 2010, 01:28:36 AM
Nicely done.

I agree you can call what you smoke/cook in your own smoker anything your want. If it was in mine I would call it smoked corned beef. ;D

It's all "Good Eats".
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: Smokey the Bear. on August 02, 2010, 12:49:53 PM
I have one brining as i type this, but i am sure gettin hungry. ;D
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: powrsmoker on August 02, 2010, 02:56:40 PM
Damn, you trying to give Schwartz's a run for their money.  Looks awesome!!! 
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: mrphilips on October 20, 2011, 08:51:26 AM
hey guys - y'all are gonna hate me maybe, but in response...
Habs is right - "authentic" is argueable at best BUT, there is one thing that is being ignored here a wee bit... Montreal smoked meat (mastered in Schwartz'z and Ben's in Montreal) is made in the Jew neighborhoods by Jews in Kosher delis. there will be no bacon. not sure about the red wine... i'm not Jewish, but both adds sound delicious.

this recipe seems pretty close to "authentic" as i've seen it doine in Schwartz's - though it may actually be a pastrami or corned beef - i won't argue that, just the bacon thing.

then again, if you aren't Jewish and don't care about the Montreal-based requirements, these additions won't matter and bacon makes everything better....
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: oakville smoker on October 20, 2011, 09:44:59 AM
I think Shwartz should be declared a national land mark and a place to worship the godliness of MSM
There is none better

I heard they brined for 28 days...   yes 28
Seems like a long time but apparently that is the secret
I watched a show on FoodTV where they let host watch the processing  ( a guy from Montreal ) and that seemed to validate it

I have tried making this a couple of times and although edible, I could not seem to acheive the level of tenderness these guys get

Damn I need to get back to Montreal soon for a another fix
Title: Re: Montreal Smoked Meat
Post by: mrphilips on October 20, 2011, 09:56:14 AM
there has to be a curve...

more time, less cure/brine ingredients... results in a less "pushy" cure which peaks in it's tenderizing magic at 28 days... i also think they steam very lightly for a lot longer than 3 hours, like 8 or something.

it ain't a bbq pit, but that's slow and low.