Peppercorn Brisket Food

SMOKED BRISKET

Steps:

• Rinse the brisket and pat dry. Trim the fat cap to approximately 1/4-inch thick and score the fat with a sharp knife, making sure not to cut through to the surface of the meat. Set aside.
• Combine the salt, black pepper, green pepper, and white pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the entire brisket and rub all over. Cover with plastic or foil and refrigerate overnight.
• Place 4 ounces of hickory wood chunksMeasuring approximately 2-by-2-by-3 inches. into the smoker box and turn smoker to 225ºF. Place drip pan under smoker.
• Unwrap the brisket and place directly on the center rack, fat-side up. Close the door and cook until the brisket reaches an internal temperature of 140 to 150ºF.
• Remove the brisket and wrap in a double layer of aluminum foil. Place it in a pan, put it back in the smoker, and continue to cook until the brisket yields to pressure when pressed, is pinkish on the inside, pulls apart easily, the fat cap is slightly blackened and jiggles, and when picked up with two pairs of tongs, bends in half and sags almost as though it will break in half. It should reach an internal temperature of 185 to 190ºF fairly quickly, and then hold that temperature for several hours. Don't rush this step.
• Rest at room temperature for 45 minutes to 1 hour before slicing and serving with a side of bread and butter pickles.

PEPPERCORN BRISKET

Steps:

• Season brisket all over with salt and crushed peppercorns. In a shallow dish, with a spoon, combine flour and garlic powder. Roll brisket in flour mixture to coat.
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat. Add brisket and cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown on all sides. Arrange carrots, potatoes, shallots, garlic, and rosemary around brisket. Pour wine over vegetables and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 3 hours, until beef is tender. Remove brisket from pot and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing crosswise into thin slices.
• Shred and reserve 2 cups beef for soft tacos, if desired.
• Serve sliced beef with vegetables, shallots, garlic, and liquid from pot spooned over top.

SALT AND PEPPER BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat a smoker to 225 degrees F using your preferred heating method. Then add the woodchips.
• Mix the salt and pepper to make the seasoning rub. Apply the rub to the brisket.
• Place the brisket on the smoker. Add more woodchips as necessary to supply smoke throughout cooking. Cook the brisket until it reaches and internal temperature of 170 degrees F, 4 to 5 hours.
• Carefully wrap the brisket in foil or butcher paper and return to the smoker. Continue cooking until the brisket reaches an internal temperature of 190 degrees F, 1 to 2 more hours.
• Rest the meat, still wrapped, for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Unwrap the brisket and slice the meat against the grain to serve.

BOONE'S DR. PEPPERCORNED BEEF

Steps:

• Over medium-high heat, brown brisket on all sides in large, oiled skillet. Cut parsnips into 2 inch pieces, cut the sweet potatoes into quarters, and roughly chop the half onion. Place parsnips, onion and potatoes in the bottom of your slow cooker. Add the browned brisket on top of veggies. Combine ground peppercorns, rosemary, and thyme, then rub into beef. Pour Dr. Pepper and Dale's around the brisket, cover, and cook on HIGH for 2 hours (until simmering), then on LOW for 7-9 hours.
• Alternatively, if you want to sleep/work through the entire cooking process, just cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours, MEDIUM for 7-8 hours (if your slow cooker has this setting), or on LOW for 9 to 10 hours (Recommended!). Add/subtract time as necessary. You may also want to save parsnips to add with about 1 to 2 hours remaining because they will get mushy after a long time in the pot, but some people prefer to eat them like potatoes anyway, so this is really a matter of preference. They were delicious with all the juices cooked into them, and were still solid enough to be picked up by a knife.

SIMPLY THE EASIEST BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Season the brisket on all sides with salt and pepper, and place in a glass baking dish. Cover with a layer of sliced onions. In a medium bowl, mix together the beer, chili sauce, and brown sugar. Pour over the roast. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 3 hours in the preheated oven. Remove the aluminum foil, and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let the brisket rest and cool slightly before slicing and returning to the dish. Reheat in the oven with the sauce spooned over the sliced meat.

SLOW-SMOKED BRISKET

Steps:

• Remove brisket from any packaging and dry with paper towels. Place fat side up (with the thicker point cut on top) and use a sharp knife to trim the fat on the top to an even sheath about 1/2-inch thick.
• Coarsely grind peppercorns in a grinder or coffee mill. Sift through a strainer to remove fine pepper dust, leaving only pieces. You should have about 1/2 cup pepper. Combine with an equal amount of salt and rub over the brisket. The coating should be complete and packed on well: depending on size, you may need to make and use more pepper-salt mixture. Cook immediately, or set on a rack in a sheet pan, cover loosely, and refrigerate for at least 8 or up to 36 hours. This will develop a crustier "bark" on the finished brisket.
• Remove and clean the grates of a charcoal grill (if using a kettle grill, it should be at least 22 inches across) or smoker, preferably one with a temperature gauge. Half-fill a chimney starter with charcoal, light it and let burn down until gray with ashes. Dump the charcoal on one side of grill and close lid. When temperature settles at 225 to 250 degrees, place half the wood chips over the coals. Return grate to grill and lay brisket on it, fat side up. Cover.
• Cook at about 225 degrees, maintaining the temperature with additional charcoal and wood chips, for 4 to 6 hours, or until the internal temperature of the meat's thickest part reaches 170 to 180 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. At this point, you can continue cooking it on the grill, or in a 225-degree oven. In either case, remove brisket from grill and wrap in unwaxed parchment or butcher paper. Then wrap well in foil. Return to grill or place in oven. (Although the internal temperature will remain steady at about 180 degrees during this final cooking, it will take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours more for the meat, fat and collagen to soften completely. Start testing after 1 1/2 hours, prodding brisket with your finger to see how it responds: the meat should become soft and balloon-like, almost jiggly.)
• When meat is done, set aside for at least 30 minutes to let juices settle. (In a cooler, well wrapped, the meat will stay hot for at least 4 hours.) Remove foil and paper. Separate the point from the flat cut; trim off any remaining fat and membrane, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Serve the old-fashioned way with slices of white bread, or with pinto beans, potato salad and coleslaw. For sandwiches, pile slices in soft white or potato rolls, preferably brushed with butter and toasted, and top with raw white onions and pickled cucumber and jalapeño slices.