Moms Three Brisket Recipes

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.

MOM'S THREE BRISKET RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Directions are the same for each recipe. Put enough heavy-duty foil in roasting pan so it can be foldsed together at top and side to seal well. Put all ingredients on top of meat. Cover and bake at 325 degrees or lower for at least 4 hours, until it is fork tender. (Slow cooking til done enough is key!) Remove meat from roaster. Keep potatoes warm while allowing meat to cool just enough to slice ACROSS the grain fairly then. Return sliced meat to the gravy in the roasting pan. Seal again with that foil. Cover and heat in the gravy for about another 1/2 hour. Or, slice and put into refrigerator until time to reheat in the same manner.
• 2. I love making the main dish because I can put it in the oven early, go about my day and have plenty of time to make everything else while it is roasting. No last minute rush to get it done altogether in time.