Spiced Brisket With Leeks And Dried Apricots Food

BRISKET WITH DRIED APRICOTS, PRUNES, AND AROMATIC SPICES

Steps:

• Combine 1/3 cup apricots, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in processor. Using on/off turns, chop to coarse puree. Using small sharp knife, make 1/2-inch-deep slits all over brisket. Set aside 1 tablespoon apricot mixture. Press remaining apricot mixture into slits.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 300°F. Heat oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle brisket all over with salt and pepper. Add brisket to pot and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate, fat side up; spread with reserved 1 tablespoon apricot mixture. Add onions to same pot. Sauté over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Add carrots, ginger, coriander, cayenne pepper, remaining 6 garlic cloves and 2 1/2 teaspoons cumin; sauté 3 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced almost to glaze, stirring up any browned bits, about 5 minutes. Return brisket to pot. Add stock and bring to simmer. Spoon some of vegetable mixture over brisket.
• Cover pot and place in oven. Roast brisket 2 1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices. Add prunes and remaining 1/3 cup apricots. Cover; roast until brisket is tender, about 30 minutes longer. Cool brisket uncovered 1 hour. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled overnight.
• Spoon off any solid fat from top of gravy; discard fat. Scrape gravy off brisket into pot. Place brisket on work surface. Slice brisket thinly across grain. Bring gr avy in pot to boil over medium-high heat. Boil to thicken slightly, if desired. Season gravy with salt and pepper. Arrange sliced brisket in large ovenproof dish. Spoon gravy over. Cover with foil. (Can be made 2 days ahead; refrigerate.)
• Rewarm covered brisket in 350°F oven about 30 minutes (or 40 minutes if chilled). Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

APRICOT BRISKET

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, brown the beef on all sides. If the brisket is too large, cut it in half first, and brown in two stages. Place the meat in a large Dutch oven with a lid.
• Add onions to the drippings in the skillet. Saute over medium heat until the onions are beginning to brown. Stir in garlic, and cook for 2 or 3 more minutes. Pour over the brisket in the Dutch oven.
• Empty one package of dry, instant onion soup mix over the browned onions and meat. Arrange all of the apricots on top of the soup mix. Pour enough water around outside of meat, not on top, to cover the sides of brisket. Cover.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check liquid; if dish is starting to look dry, add a bit more water around meat. Cover, and cook another hour. Remove lid, and stir apricots into gravy. Leave uncovered, and cook for another hour. Stir gravy again, and add more water if the gravy is too thick. Meat should be very tender; if necessary, bake for an additional 1/2 hour. Cut across grain to serve.

BRISKET WITH DRIED APRICOTS, PRUNES & AROMATIC SPICES

Steps:

• Combine 1/3 cup apricots, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in processor. Using on/off turns, chop to coarse puree. Using small sharp knife, make 1/2-inch-deep slits all over brisket. Set aside 1 tablespoon apricot mixture. Press remaining apricot mixture into slits.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 300°F Heat oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle brisket all over with salt and pepper. Add brisket to pot and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate, fat side up; spread with reserved 1 tablespoon apricot mixture. Add onions to same pot. Sauté over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Add carrots, ginger, coriander, cayenne pepper, remaining 6 garlic cloves and 2 1/2 teaspoons cumin; sauté 3 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced almost to glaze, stirring up any browned bits, about 5 minutes. Return brisket to pot. Add stock and bring to simmer. Spoon some of vegetable mixture over brisket.
• Cover pot and place in oven. Roast brisket 2 1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices. Add prunes and remaining 1/3 cup apricots. Cover; roast until brisket is tender, about 30 minutes longer. Cool brisket uncovered 1 hour. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled overnight.
• Spoon off any solid fat from top of gravy; discard fat. Scrape gravy off brisket into pot. Place brisket on work surface. Slice brisket thinly across grain. Bring gr avy in pot to boil over medium-high heat. Boil to thicken slightly, if desired. Season gravy with salt and pepper. Arrange sliced brisket in large ovenproof dish. Spoon gravy over. Cover with foil. (Can be made 2 days ahead; refrigerate.).
• Rewarm covered brisket in 350°F oven about 30 minutes (or 40 minutes if chilled). Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

BRISKET WITH DRIED FRUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a large roasting pan over high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Brown beef in pan all over, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter. Add onions and garlic to pan; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring, until onions just turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and juice, the stock, and vinegar; bring to a boil.
• Return meat to pan; cover with foil. Cook in oven until fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn meat; add sauerkraut and dried fruits. Cover; cook until meat is very tender and sauce is reduced, about 1 1/2 hours. Let stand 30 minutes. Slice meat against the grain. Serve with sauce.

BRISKET BRAISED WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Pat brisket dry.
• Heat the oil over moderately-high heat until rippling and brown the brisket on all sides.
• Transfer it to a plate and season.
• In the remaining oil, saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes and add brisket, any juices that have accumulated on plate and wine.
• Bring to a boil and braise, covered, over low heat, for 3 hours and 30 minutes, or until it is almost tender.
• Let apricots, apples, raisins and currants plump in 1 ½ cups hot water for 1 hour and drain fruit, reserving water.
• In a small, dry skillet, brown the flour over moderately-high heat, stirring constantly, and remove from heat.
• Add reserved water to brisket and whisk in browned flour.
• Add fruit and simmer, covered, 45 minutes, or until fruit is soft and brisket is very tender.
• Let cool, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• Slice brisket very thin across grain and serve with fruit and sauce.
• It will be even more flavourful if chilled overnight and reheated in sauce over moderately-low heat.