Coffee Chile Braised Beef Brisket Tacos Recipes

BRAISED BRISKET TACOS

Steps:

• Make the brisket: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Mix 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Score the fat on the brisket with the tip of a sharp knife (do not cut into the meat), then rub the spice mixture all over the brisket until coated. Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the brisket fat-side down and cook until browned on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the poblanos, red onion, garlic, the remaining 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, the coriander, oregano and a pinch of salt to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato juice and chicken broth and remove from the heat. Nestle the brisket fat-side up in the liquid and cover the pot. Bake until the meat is very tender and a thin knife inserted into the center twists easily, about 3 hours.
• Transfer the brisket to a cutting board. Spoon off and discard the excess fat from the sauce in the pot, then puree until smooth using an immersion blender (or transfer to a regular blender and puree). Stir in the vinegar and season with salt. Transfer about 3/4 cup of the sauce to a small bowl for serving. Stir 2 tablespoons water into the remaining sauce in the pot. Thinly slice the meat against the grain and return to the pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is well coated with sauce and warmed through.
• Heat the tortillas in a dry skillet or in the microwave. Serve the brisket on the tortillas; drizzle with the reserved sauce and top as desired.

BRAISED BEEF TACOS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over high heat, add the oil. Season the steak with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, put the steaks into the pan and cook until browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• In the sleeve of a slow cooker, add the onion and cilantro stems. Put the steak on top and sprinkle with garlic and chile powder. Add the tomatoes with their juice (set aside 1/2 cup of the tomatoes for the salsa), broth, and 2 cups water. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the steak is tender and shreds easily. Remove the meat and shred using 2 forks. (Strain and reserve the cooking liquid for Round 2 Recipe Crispy Steak Sandwiches.)
• While the meat is cooking, combine the reserved 1/2 cup tomatoes with the scallions, lime juice, salt and pepper, to taste, and 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Wrap the tortillas in a damp towel and microwave on high for about 30 seconds, or until heated through. Put 1/4 cup of the meat onto each tortilla (reserve 1 1/2 cups beef for Round 2 Recipe Crispy Steak Sandwiches.). Top with some salsa, cilantro leaves, and 1 tablespoon sour cream. (Reserve remaining 1 cup sour cream for Online Round 2 Recipe Creamy Mexican Dip with Spiced Chips.) Roll up and serve.

MY MOM'S COFFEE-BRAISED BRISKET

Steps:

• Mix the ground coffee, salt, cardamom and black cardamom in a small bowl and rub into the brisket. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Put the brisket in a roasting pan and roast until the exterior has browned, about 20 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• Warm 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions, carrots and the garlic, cut-side down. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened and browned, about 15 minutes, adding more oil if necessary. Add the tomato paste and cook until it reduces slightly, about 2 more minutes.
• Transfer the vegetables to the roasting pan with the brisket. Add the dried apricots, brewed coffee and eggs in their shells. Add enough water to bring the liquid halfway up the side of the brisket.
• Cover the pan tightly with two layers of foil, return to the oven and braise for 1 hour. Remove the eggs, gently tap them all over to make a network of small cracks and return them to the braise. Recover the pan with foil and continue cooking until the brisket shreds easily with a fork, about 3 more hours. Let the brisket cool in its braising liquid, then refrigerate overnight.
• To serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel the cold eggs and slice the cold brisket, then return them both to the braising liquid and bake until warmed through, about 30 minutes. Serve the brisket slices with the peeled eggs, grated fresh horseradish and parsley leaves and spoon the broth over top.

CHILE-BRAISED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a small skillet over a medium heat, toast the star anise and fennel seed. Move the pan across the heat, letting the spices gently roll inside. Do that for about 3 to 4 minutes or until you begin to smell the toasting spices. Transfer into a spice mill or a coffee grinder. Add 5 of the chiles and grind until finely ground. Season the brisket with salt and pepper, rub with the spice blend, cover, and refrigerate while continuing with the recipe.
• Put the remaining 7 chiles in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Set aside and let soak until the chiles have softened, about 30 minutes. When soft, reserve the chiles and 1 cup of the reconstituting water. Discard the rest of the water. In a blender, liquefy the chiles, the 1 cup reserved soaking water, and the sherry vinegar. Set aside.
• In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over high heat and sear the brisket in the hot oil on all sides until well browned, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the brisket from the pan and set aside. Add the onions to the pan and sauté until they become translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, stock, and chile mixture and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the brisket, cover, and braise in the oven until fork tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours, skimming occasionally to remove excess fat.
• When done, slice and serve hot with the braising liquid alongside.
• To Drink
• The hot climate of southern Oregon produces one of my very favorite Spanish varietals, Tempranillo, which loves meat braised with tomatoes, ground chiles, and spices. The black-fruit flavors of this grape and the tannins stand up well to the braised beef. Two Oregon wineries, Abacela and Dominio IV, produce fine examples of this grape varietal. A companion choice would be a French Rhône wine from Chapoutier: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Saint Joseph, or Crozes-Hermitage. These wines have spice, smoke, and lingering tannins that speak to all the flavors of the brisket. -K.P.

BEEF BRISKET TACOS

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first five ingredients. Add brisket; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate overnight., Transfer brisket and marinade to a 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until tender, 8-10 hours. Remove meat; discard bay leaves. Reserve juices in slow cooker. When cool enough to handle, shred meat with two forks. Return to slow cooker., Using tongs, serve shredded brisket in tortillas. Add toppings as desired., Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture and juices in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally. ,