Jewish-American Pastrami & Mustard Collard Wrap
כריך פסטרמה·(karich pastrama)
LUNCH
It’s 12:15 p.m. between meetings on Day 12 of your reset, the physical hangover has finally passed, and if you have to look at one more piece of meal-prepped chicken, you're going to scream. You want the smoky bite of peppery pastrami, and since the Pancake Rule dictates we demand actual texture, we're wrapping this masterpiece in a broad collard leaf that we flash-steam to fold perfectly around the filling. Don’t hold back on the sharp yellow mustard cutting through the rich meat—just roll it tight, wipe your hands, and get back to work.
Ingredients
- collard green leaf1 large
- Whole30-compliant deli pastrami6 oz
- Whole30-compliant spicy brown mustard2 tbsp
- compliant sauerkraut1/4 cup
- compliant dill pickle spear1 large
- ghee1 tsp
Method
- 01
Shave the collard stem.
Lay the leaf flat on a cutting board, dark green side down, and use a sharp paring knife or a vegetable peeler to carefully shave down the thick, raised center stalk so it sits totally flush with the rest of the leaf.
- 02
Flash-steam the leaf.
Place the shaved leaf on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 10 to 15 seconds. It will instantly turn vibrant green and become completely pliable. Lay it back flat on your board and pat it completely dry with a paper towel.
- 03
Flash-heat the meat.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tiny dab of ghee and flash-heat your pastrami for 60 seconds until the edges crisp slightly and the spices become fragrant.
- 04
Build the deli magic.
Smear the spicy brown mustard generously down the center of your collard leaf. Pile the pastrami directly on top of the mustard. Ensure the sauerkraut is well drained so it doesn't make a soggy wrap, heap it over the meat, and lay the pickle spear right in the middle.
- 05
Tuck and roll.
Orient the leaf so the stem points toward you. Fold the bottom stem end up over the meat. Fold the two sides inward tightly, then roll the whole thing forward like a burrito until perfectly sealed.
Notes
Hidden-Sugar Label Check: Deli Meats
Commercial pastrami is almost always cured with brown sugar or honey, making 95% of the deli counter strictly off-limits. Seek out Applegate Farms Turkey Pastrami, which has zero grams of sugar, or grab compliant plain roast beef and rub it yourself with ground black pepper and coriander.
Why this swap?
We are using a collard green instead of rye bread because the Whole30 Pancake Rule explicitly forbids recreating baked goods with compliant flours. A flash-steamed collard leaf is structurally superior to lettuce, holds a mountain of meat without tearing, and acts as the perfect, neutral vessel for the loud, aggressive flavors of mustard and spiced beef.
Label Check: Mustard & Kraut
Double-check your spicy brown mustard—some brands sneak in white wine (which violates the alcohol rule). Primal Kitchen Organic Spicy Brown Mustard is safely Whole30 Approved. For the sauerkraut, the ingredient list should literally just be: cabbage, water, salt.
From Whole30 10 Minute Meals.