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Pastrami on Rye

Steaming pastrami piled high on seeded rye with mustard — the New York deli icon.

⏱ 10 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 2Servings
🏷 LunchCategory
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Classic New York deli pastrami sandwich on rye bread

Pastrami on rye is the sandwich that made New York delis famous — steaming-hot, hand-sliced pastrami mounded on seeded rye with a swipe of mustard. From Katz’s Delicatessen to the Lower East Side, it’s been the city’s great meat sandwich for over a century.

Chef Emily presents Pastrami on Rye

The great New York deli sandwich

Steaming pastrami piled high on seeded rye with mustard and a sour pickle — the sandwich of New York deli legend.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Steam the pastrami over simmering water for 2-3 minutes until hot and glossy.
  2. Warm the rye bread briefly in the steamer or a dry skillet.
  3. Spread mustard on the bread and mound the pastrami high on two slices.
  4. Top with the remaining bread, press gently, and cut in half. Serve with sour pickles.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Steam the pastrami — don't microwave it — to keep it moist and tender. Pile it high and don't skimp; the deli tradition is a generous mound of meat.

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Recipe details

Prep10 min
Cook10 min
Servings2
CategoryLunch
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →