Pastrami is one of the most popular types of deli meats that can pair well with different kinds of dressings, condiments, and breads. The meat for pastrami is taken from the navel cut of cows, lamb, or turkey (breast or thigh) and is cured and smoked to perfection.
There are many ways you can enjoy juicy and high-quality pastrami. Choosing the right pairing for great pastrami is key since it can elevate the flavor of the meat to something truly incredible.
Some people like to pair pastrami with Russian dressing and sauerkraut, while others like pairing the pastrami with Swiss cheese to combine the meat with a creamy and cheesy texture. To help you try pastrami in several different ways, we have listed some of the best pairings of beer, cheese, alcohol, and side dishes with pastrami. This can help you enjoy pastrami’s complex flavors and observe how its pairings impact its overall flavor.
What Cheese Is Good with Pastrami?
Cheese always pairs well with meat; however, cured meat amplifies the rich flavor of the cheese and its unique sweetness. With a grilled pastrami sandwich, you must select cheeses that melt easily or can quickly become gooey in a sandwich press. To soften the cheese on top of your choice of pastrami, you can lightly grill the meat and place the cheese on top of the hot pastrami. After a few minutes, the cheese will cover the meat and become soft and gooey, meaning it is ready to enjoy.
The best types of cheeses you should try with pastrami are:
Swiss Cheese
It complements the smoky and salty flavor of the meat without overwhelming the overall taste of the pastrami.
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Havarti Cheese
If you want to enjoy semi-hard cheese with a slightly tangy and sweet flavor with pastrami, you should try Havarti cheese in your pastrami sandwich. It also pairs well with rye bread and can be perfect for people looking for a subtle flavor.
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is a highly flavorful cheese that pairs well with the pastrami’s meaty flavor. Try adding crumbled blue cheese to your pastrami sandwich with cheddar cheese for an unforgettable taste.
Provolone Cheese
It is the best type of cheese you can use to make a grilled pastrami sandwich. It has a smoky flavor that complements the meaty flavor of the pastrami well.
Jarlsberg Cheese
Jarlsberg cheese is another type of cheese that complements a pastrami sandwich well. You can add Jarlsberg cheese to your pastrami sandwich for a nuttier and more complex flavor.
What Beer Goes with Pastrami?
There’s nothing more fulfilling than flavorful meat paired with some high-quality beer. Pastrami pairs well with various types of beer, depending on how you like to enjoy the meat. The most popular types of beer for pairing with pastrami are:
IPA Beer
A hoppy IPA beer can be perfect for balancing the saltiness of the pastrami with a refreshing citrus flavor that makes for a well-rounded flavor combination.
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Smoked Doppelbock
A doppelbock is a German beer that goes along well with pastrami. The sweetness from the malt cuts through the fattiness and spiciness of beef pastrami and enhances its smoky flavor.
Sam Adams Boston Lager
For people who aren’t a fan of hoppy beer, a Sam Adams Boston Lager would be the perfect pairing with a pastrami sandwich. It is slightly maltier and complements the smokiness of the pastrami well.
What Hard Alcohol Goes with Pastrami?
If you want to go with your friends for a fun night out and try delicious pastrami with great hard liquor, you should try pairing it with gin, whiskey, or bourbon. These hard liquors have a distinct flavor of their own and can elevate the salty and spicy taste of the pastrami to another level.
Gin
Gin complements the salty and smoky flavor of the pastrami wonderfully. You can enjoy a shot of gin with the most flavorful pastrami, and you are guaranteed to taste a stellar flavor combination.
Bourbon
If you are a fan of deli charcuterie boards, you need to try quality sliced pastrami with bourbon. The bourbon goes well with the cheeses and pastrami from the deli and makes for an incredible treat.
Whiskey
Most people wouldn’t consider pairing smoky whiskey with smoked pastrami; however, for people who like to munch on snacks with hard liquor, a smoky whiskey with smoked pastrami can be a mind-blowing pairing.
What Are the Best Side Dishes for a Pastrami Sandwich?
Although a pastrami sandwich tastes fantastic on its own, you can add a few flavorful sides to it to complement the saltiness of the meat or cut through the spice in it.
Some side dishes mentioned below are commonly available with pastrami sandwiches in deli; however, some might seem totally unusual to you. These sides can be enjoyed alongside pastrami sandwiches or can be added to the sandwich for a more well-rounded and intense flavor.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a popular side dish for pastrami sandwiches since it helps provide a crunch and slight creaminess. It can be a refreshing way to cut through the fat and salt in the pastrami and add a hint of sweetness to your pastrami sandwich. If condiments are present in your sandwich already, we recommend not using a mayo dressing for the coleslaw since it can make it heavier.
Pickles
If you want a sour treat to complement your juicy pastrami sandwich, adding pickles as a side is the best way you can achieve that. They can also be refreshing without the heavy mayonnaise present in coleslaw and are simple enough to be available in any deli you visit.
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Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a kind of thinly shredded fermented cabbage that can be extremely delicious to eat in sandwiches. It can be served as a side dish along with your favorite pastrami sandwich since it is slightly acidic and soft and can balance out the intense flavor of the meat.
Potatoes
French fries, roasted potatoes, and potato chips pair along fantastically with a freshly prepared pastrami sandwich. For a healthier option, you can select a potato salad as a side with your favorite pastrami sandwich.
How to Make Pastrami Sandwiches | Sandwich Recipes | Allrecipes.com
In this video, you’ll see how to make a spicy hot pastrami and Swiss cheese sandwich. Spicy mustard and cabbage do wonders for this sandwich. The sweet-hot mustard is the star of the filling and in the spread. No wonder it’s called the “Hot Pat.”
Summary
Pastrami is a type of versatile deli meat that can be added to sandwiches and even eaten on its own. With various condiments, alcohol pairings, and side dishes, you can enjoy pastrami with numerous flavor combinations or even heat it with flavorful cheeses for a gooey and deluxe experience.
The pastrami pairings mentioned above are the most popular among pastrami lovers and help enhance the meat’s flavor without taking away from its original smokiness, saltiness, and spiciness.
To read more about pastrami and how you can prepare it to maximize its flavor, be sure to see our related articles.
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My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.