Southwestern Beef Brisket Recipes

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.

SOUTHWESTERN PULLED BRISKET SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Season the beef generously with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat just until beginning to smoke. Add the meat and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker; leave the skillet on the heat.
• Add garlic, onion, chili powder, coriander, and cumin to drippings in the skillet and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vinegar and boil until it's almost gone, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in water and pour the mixture over the brisket. Crush the tomatoes through your fingers into the slow cooker; add the tomato juices, chipotles, bay leaves, and molasses. Cover the cooker, set it on LOW, and cook the brisket until it pulls apart easily with a fork, about 8 hours.
• To serve, leave the meat in the slow cooker and use 2 forks to pull it apart and stir it evenly into the sauce; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove and discard bay leaves. Pile the meat on sandwich buns and serve with jalapenos. (This is also great rolled up in tortillas.)

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Cut brisket in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add mushrooms and bay leaves. Combine the tomatoes, onion, brown sugar, vinegar and ketchup; pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until meat is tender., Remove beef and keep warm. Discard bay leaves. In a large saucepan, combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir in cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Slice meat across the grain; serve with gravy.

SLOW-COOKER BRISKET SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the brisket with salt and pepper, then brown on all sides, about 10 minutes, adding the garlic in the last 2 minutes. Transfer the meat and garlic to a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. Pour the beer into the skillet and simmer 30 seconds, scraping up the browned bits from the pan; add the beer mixture to the slow cooker.
• Nestle the celery around the meat and add the brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, soy sauce, bay leaves and paprika. Stir, then cover and cook on low 8 hours or on high 6 hours. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes, then thinly slice.
• Serve on brioche halves with coleslaw; drizzle with the cooking liquid.

SOUTHWESTERN BRISKET HASH

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and cook, undisturbed, until they start to color, about 5 minutes. Stir and continue cooking until golden, about 3 more minutes. Add the red onion and jalapeno; season with salt and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Stir in the brisket and cook until heated through. Add 3/4 cup brisket sauce and cook, stirring, until absorbed, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the Swiss chard until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with salt, then arrange the sliced cheese on top. Cook until the cheese begins to melt, about 1 more minute.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggs and season with salt. Cook until the whites are set, about 3 minutes.
• Divide the hash among plates; top each with a fried egg. Heat the remaining 1/4 cup brisket sauce in the empty skillet. Drizzle on the hash. Serve with the avocado.
• Combine the brown sugar, chile powder, cumin, celery salt, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Rub all over the brisket, then transfer to a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. Combine 3/4 cup ketchup, the vinegar and Worcestershire sauce in another small bowl. Pour over the brisket along with 3/4 cup water. Cover and cook on low, 8 hours.
• Remove the brisket to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, skim off the excess fat from the sauce; stir in the remaining 1/2 cup ketchup. Reserve one-third of the brisket (about 12 ounces) and 1 cup of the brisket sauce for Southwestern Brisket Hash. Slice the remaining brisket and divide among plates. Top with some of the sauce and serve with potato salad and cornbread.
• Per serving: Calories 453; Fat 12 g (Saturated 5 g); Cholesterol 115 mg; Sodium 676 mg; Carbohydrate 16 g; Fiber 0 g; Protein 67 g

SOUTHWESTERN BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Set oven to 325 degrees.
• Season beef brisket with salt and pepper.
• In a Dutch oven heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Brown beef on both sides; drain.
• Combine the next 10 ingredients; pour over meat.
• Cover tightly and bake for 2 hours at 325 degrees F.
• Add the red peppers and carrots; bake 1 hour longer or until meat is tender.
• Remove meat and veggies to a serving platter.
• Skim the fat from top.
• Reduce the pan juices for gravy.
• Slice the meat thinly across the grain.
• Serve with veggies and the pan juices.

SLOW COOKER BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Mix brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, mustard powder, onion powder, and garlic powder for dry rub together in a small bowl.
• Mix beef broth, liquid smoke, and Worcestershire sauce for cooking liquid in a separate bowl.
• Place onions and carrots in a slow cooker. Pour cooking liquid over top and set to temperature High to let it warm up.
• Meanwhile, rinse brisket under cold water. Pat it dry, then season all over with the dry rub. Place brisket in the slow cooker on top of the onions and carrots, with the fatty side facing up. The cooking liquid should reach just to the bottom of the brisket; if not, add a little water.
• Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours. Turn the slow cooker off and transfer brisket to a foil-lined sheet pan. Trim some of the fat if desired.
• Place barbecue sauce in a bowl. Ladle 1/4 cup hot cooking liquid from the slow cooker into the bowl and mix it with the barbecue sauce. Baste the fatty side of the brisket with this mixture.
• Preheat the oven's broiler.
• Place the brisket in the preheated oven so there are 6 inches between the top of the brisket and the burner. Broil until the fatty edges start to crisp up, 2 to 4 minutes; watch closely so it doesn't burn.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice brisket thinly and against the grain.
• Remove vegetables from the slow cooker with a slotted spoon, and serve alongside the brisket.

SOUTHWEST SHREDDED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Lay the brisket, fat side up in a large dutch oven.
• Scatter the onion over it.
• Pour in broth and add cold water to cover the meat by 3 inches.
• Set over medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Cover, lower the heat and simmer, adding additional boiling water as necessary.
• Total cooking time is approx.
• 4 hours.
• (turn brisket halfway through cooking) Remove from heat, uncover, and let stand until broth is cool enough to handle.
• Pour off and strain broth, reserving 1 1/2 cups.
• Trim fat from brisket and throw away.
• Shred the brisket with a large, 2 pronged fork, until it almost seems fluffy.
• In a bowl, combine the beef and broth, let stand covered at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, whisk together chipotles, olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, salt, and garlic.
• Drain the meat, pressing hard with the back of a large spoon to squeeze out any broth that may be hiding!
• In a large bowl toss together beef, diced cheese, and chipotle mixture.
• Add red onion, cilantro, chile strips, and toss.
• Line a large serving platter with the outer leaves of romaine lettuce.
• Pile the meat onto the lettuce.
• Garnish around the meat with the tomato wedges and avocado.
• Scatter the radish slices all over.
• Serve with warm tortillas.

MARINATED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Shake flour in the oven bag; place in ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Combine the Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, onion salt, pepper and liquid smoke if desired; rub over both sides of brisket. Place in the oven bag. Close with tie and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Combine ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice, mustard and hot pepper sauce; spread over brisket. Close oven bag with nylon tie; cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag. Return to pan. Bake at 325° for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until beef is tender. If desired, thicken pan juices to serve with beef.