Michael Symons Red Wine Braised Brisket Recipes

BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large enameled cast iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season the brisket with salt and pepper. Add half of the brisket to the casserole and cook over medium-high heat, turning on all sides until browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a plate. Repeat with the remaining oil and remaining brisket. Add the celery, carrot, onion, and chile to the casserole and cook over medium heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until glossy, about 2 minutes. Add the thyme sprigs, anchovies, bay leaf, and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the stock, wine, and vinegar and bring to a boil. Return the brisket to the casserole, cover and braise for 1 hour. Drop the heat to 225 degrees F and cook 4 more hours or until meat is tender.

POT ROAST

Steps:

• Sprinkle the meat liberally with the celery seeds, salt and pepper up to 1 day in advance. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 45 minutes to 1 hour before cooking to take the chill off it. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, followed by the brisket. Sear the meat until golden brown and crusty, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Set aside.
• Add the celery, carrots and onions to the Dutch oven, along with a pinch of salt. Brown the vegetables, about 3 minutes, then add the garlic and thyme and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer. Stir in the tomato paste and toast it until it's rust colored, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Add the meat back in, then add enough stock to cover the roast halfway. Bring the liquid to a simmer and taste for seasoning, adding more salt if necessary. Cover and roast in the oven, basting the meat occasionally, until the roast is tender, 3 to 4 hours.
• If you're serving individual plates, the meat can be removed to a cutting board and sliced. Or, the meat can be pulled apart with a couple of forks right in the pot at the table and served with plenty of the sauce and vegetables

BRAISED SPARE RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season flour with salt and pepper and dust ribs with it. Knock off any remaining flour and heat up oil. Brown ribs in oil and set aside.
• Saute, over low heat, the onions and garlic until translucent. Add spices and stir. Add the puree, red wine vinegar, and beef stock and bring to a simmer. Place ribs in braising pan and cover with the seasoned beef stock and veal stock. Cover with foil. Place in the oven for 2 1/2 hours or until ribs are tender.

PASTRAMI-RUBBED BRISKET

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect heat by building the coals on one side only. Allow the temperature to reach 225 to 250 degrees F. Alternatively, set up your offset smoker. Build a fire with apple and cherry wood in the firebox and allow the temperature to reach 225 to 250 degrees F and the smoke to begin to run clear.
• Clean the brisket by trimming the fat cap, creating a fatty and lean side. Trim the fat on the point down to about 1/2 inch. Trim the fat on top of the flat end down to about 1/4 inch. Flip the brisket over and remove any silver skin and sinew from the meat. You will lose around 2 pounds from trimming.
• Place the fat you have trimmed into a small pan and place on the smoker or grill to render. You will use it later to brush the brisket before wrapping.
• To make the pastrami spice, add the coriander seeds, black pepper, salt, mustard seeds, chili flakes and sumac to a small bowl and mix to combine. In a spray bottle, combine the apple cider and Worcestershire sauce.
• Coat the entire brisket with the mustard, then liberally season on all sides with the pastrami spice. Spray it with the apple cider mixture.
• Place the brisket on the indirect side of the grill with the fat side facing down. If using the smoker, place the brisket with the fattiest part of the brisket pointed towards the fire. Place a thermometer in the fattest part of the brisket, close the lid and cook, misting the brisket every 30 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 6 hours.
• Brush the brisket with the rendered fat and wrap it in peach butcher paper. Place back onto the indirect heat on the grill or smoker and continue to cook until an internal temperature of 205 degrees is reached, about 3 more hours.
• Remove from the grill and let rest for at least 1 hour before separating the flat (lean brisket) from the point (fatty brisket). Slice against the grain and serve.

MICHAEL SYMON'S RED WINE BRAISED BRISKET

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over high heat until smoking. Season the meat liberally with salt and pepper. Sear in the pan for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove once dark golden brown and set aside.
• Add the onions, carrot, celery and garlic and cook until the vegetables are starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Reduce by half, about 3 to 5 minutes, then add the beef stock.
• Add the brisket back in, along with the thyme and bay leaf, and bring up to a simmer. Place a lid on the pot and cook at a low temperature for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is fork tender. Serve the brisket with the sauce and vegetables.