Crowd Pleasing Brisket Food

BRAISED BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275ºF. Mix the fennel seeds, sage, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over the brisket, pressing it into the meat to make sure it sticks well.
• Mix the beef stock or broth, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and garlic in a large liquid measuring cup and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the brisket fat-side up and cook until golden brown and no longer sticking to the bottom of the pot, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until it is golden brown and some of the fat has rendered, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the brisket to a plate and lower the heat to medium.
• Add the onions, carrots and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, until the onions are softened and starting to caramelize, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Add the balsamic mixture and tomatoes to the pot and bring to a boil. Return the brisket to the pan and nestle it into the sauce and vegetables fat-side up. Cover the pot, transfer to the oven and braise until the brisket is tender but not shredding or falling apart, about 3 hours 30 minutes. A fork should easily pierce through the meat.
• Remove from the oven, uncover and let the brisket rest in the pan for 30 minutes. Remove the brisket to a cutting board. Bring the vegetables and sauce to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until slightly thickened, 12 to 15 minutes. Thinly slice the brisket across the grain and place on a platter. Spoon the vegetables and sauce over the top and serve.

CROWD-PLEASING BRISKET RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. Remove 1 cup of sauce to a small bowl and add water to it; mix well and pour into pan Place brisket in pan and pour the remaining sauce over meat. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until meat is fork-tender. Remove from pan and let rest 5 minutes before carving across the grain. Serve topped with pan drippings.