James Martin Brisket Of Beef Recipes

POT-ROASTED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/Gas 5/fan oven 170C. Wash and dry brisket and season. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a deep casserole and brown beef all over. Remove from pan. Turn down heat, add butter and fry the onions, celery, carrots and mushroom stalks for 6-8 minutes.
• Return beef to pan and add beer, thyme, bay leaves and sugar. Add water if necessary so the liquid comes about two-thirds up the beef. Season, bring to a simmer, cover tightly, and cook in the oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 160C/Gas 3/fan oven 140C and cook for 2 hours, turning twice, until tender.
• An hour before the beef is done, toss the parsnips in oil, season and roast on a baking tray above the beef for 50 mins - 1 hr until tender, turning once.
• Turn oven up to 190C/Gas 5/fan oven 170C. Lift out the beef, tent with foil and keep warm. Stir the parsnips and mushroom caps into the beef juices. Check seasoning; add water if needed. Cover and cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
• To serve, use a slotted spoon to remove vegetables and arrange round the beef. Spoon off the excess fat from the juices, then whisk in the mustard and pour into a jug. Moisten the beef with a little juice and scatter with parsley or thyme.

BRISKET OF BEEF WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• Preferably use a casserole dish that you can use on top of the stove to make it easy for you to make the gravy
• 1) peel and smash your garlic
• 2) top, tail and peel shallots
• 3) make a pint of beef stock
• 4) chuck your garlic, carrots, shallots and beef into a casserole dish
• 5) pour in 1 pint of beef stock (and wine, if applicable)
• 6) Stick the lid on and sit in the oven on about 160 for anything up to 3 hours (just keep checking it, i'm sorry i'm not sure of the exact time, but it's not the end of the world if it's a bit pink in the middle)
• 7) When you feel the beef is done, take it out and stick it on a chopping board for carving
• 8) scoop out those gorgeous tender vegetables, and put them in a pan with the lid on to keep warm
• 9) onto the gravy - mix the cornflour with a splash of water to make a paste (this is important, otherwise you will end up with lumps of cornflour :puke:)
• 10) add to casserole dish and top up with as much beef stock as you need to make your gravy, although you can always freeze some to add to casseroles or just to use in the future (nb: if you don't have a casserole you can use on top of the stove, pour the juices from the casserole into a medium sized saucepan and use this)
• 11) simmer this (it should be bubbling but not boiling) on the hob until it thickens, you can always add more cornflour or some gravy granules if it isn't thickening after a few minutes.
• 12) while the gravy is going, slice up the beef by sticking a fork in it and slicing thinly as possible (leave the string on and just take it out as you go, otherwise it will be quite difficult)
• 13) Half of this will make a meal in itself with your choice of potatoes for 2... if you've got more people, i'd do some extra vegetables... cabbage, peas, carrots whatever!!