Southern Barbecued Brisket Recipes

OVEN-BARBECUED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Make the rub. Mix all ingredients well in a small bowl and set aside.
• Place oven rack in upper-middle position and heat oven to 275 degrees. Rub dry rub all over brisket and poke holes all over with a fork. Place half of bacon going crosswise in a broiler safe 9 by 13-inch pan (it's best not to use glass). Put brisket fat side down on top of bacon. Lay the rest of the bacon crosswise on top of brisket, wrapping it down around the sides, and tucking any excess under. Cover pan with foil and place in oven for 4 hours.
• Take pan out of oven. Carefully flip brisket over, fat side up. Replace foil and return to oven. Turn off heat and leave brisket in oven 1 additional hour.
• Pour accumulated juices from brisket into large measuring cup or a bowl. Remove bacon from brisket and chop into pieces. Cook bacon in medium saucepan over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until fat has rendered. Add onion and cook until softened, 4-5 minutes. Take off heat and add vinegar and dark brown sugar. Return to heat and simmer until reduced to a syrupy consistency, about 5 minutes.
• Skim fat from accumulated juices and add chicken broth to make a total of 3 cups. Add to mixture in saucepan and reduce until about 3 cups in volume, 8-10 minutes. Take off heat and add ketchup. Mix well and strain if desired. (I like to strain about half the solid pieces out and leave the rest). After straining, add chipotle peppers.
• Turn oven to broil. Brush brisket with 1 cup sauce and broil until top is lightly browned and fat starts to crisp. Cut brisket against the grain into 1/4-inch slices and serve with extra sauce.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BRISKET

Steps:

• Make the brisket: Combine the chili powder, mustard powder, brown sugar, cayenne, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Rub on the brisket, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the brisket from the refrigerator about 1 hour before cooking and let sit at room temperature. Soak a few handfuls of mesquite or hickory wood chips in water 30 minutes; drain.
• Preheat a grill to low, then prepare for indirect heat: For a gas grill, turn off the burners on one side; put the wood chips in a smoker box and position under the grate over the heated burners. For a charcoal grill, push the coals to one side; once the temperature registers 200 degrees F (you should be able to hold your hand 5 inches from the coals for 6 seconds), scatter the wood chips on top. Position a drip pan under the grate on the cooler side of the grill.
• Put the brisket fat-side up on the grill above the drip pan. Cover and grill, undisturbed, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 185 degrees F to 200 degrees F, 3 hours, 30 minutes to 5 hours. If using a charcoal grill, leave the vents nearly closed and scatter 6 to 8 unlit charcoal briquettes and a handful of prepared wood chips on top of the lit coals every 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the brisket from the grill, wrap in foil and let rest at least 30 minutes. Pour the drippings from the drip pan into a bowl and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the barbecue sauce: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the chili powder and cook, stirring, until brick red, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1 1/2 cups water, the vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, allspice and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Whisk the reserved drippings, then whisk 1 to 2 tablespoons into the barbecue sauce. Thinly slice the brisket against the grain. Serve with the barbecue sauce.
• Dry cast-iron pans thoroughly with paper towels after washing to keep them from rusting.

OVEN BARBECUED BEEF BRISKET I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees).
• Sprinkle both sides of brisket with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place in a large covered roasting pan.
• Cook covered with no water at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) allowing 1 hour per pound.
• Before last hour of cooking, remove brisket and slice. Return slices to pan and add barbecue sauce mixed with water. Cover meat with sauce, cover, and cook 1 hour longer.

BBQ BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Allow the brisket to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Combine the salt, sugar, shallots, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne in a small bowl to make a dry rub. Massage the rub into all sides of the meat, being sure to use it all. Lay the brisket on a sheet pan.
• Light a grill on low heat on one side, keeping the other side turned off; you should maintain a temperature of 250 to 300 degrees F the whole time you are grilling. Place the hickory chips in a foil pan. Cover with foil and cut slits in the top to release the smoke. Place the foil pan on the lit side of the grill. Place the brisket fat-side up on the turned-off side of the grill and close the cover. Cook, flipping a few times, until very tender but not falling apart and the center reaches about 200 degrees F, 3 to 4 hours. Let rest 5 to 10 minutes, then slice the brisket into thin slices across the grain. Serve over buttered toasted buns or with Corn Cakes and Crunchy Slaw.
• Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the wet ingredients.
• Whisk together the egg and buttermilk in a large mixing bowl. While whisking, pour in the melted butter and stir until combined. Stir in the dry ingredients just until combined. (Be sure not to overwork the batter.) Fold in the Cheddar, corn, if using, and chives.
• Place the skillet over medium heat and add enough butter to coat the bottom. Ladle about 1/2 cup batter into the pan, spreading gently to form a thick circle. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip over and cook until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Melt a small pat of butter in the skillet in between each batch (this will help the corn cakes rise). Serve immediately, with more butter and maple syrup, if desired.
• Whisk together the mayo, dill, granulated sugar, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, pepper and salt in a large bowl.
• Remove the stem from the broccoli and slice thinly, then add to the bowl. Cut the crown of the broccoli into small florets and add to the bowl, along with the cabbage and fennel. Toss until the vegetables are evenly coated in the dressing. Garnish with the fennel fronds.
• Serve immediately or store refrigerated in an airtight container. This recipe tastes even better the next day!