When traveling to West Virginia for a weekend in the Shenandoah Valley together, my father made a brisket. Now, I was in my early twenties at the time, and I am sure he'd made brisket before, but none of those mattered at all. This brisket was so delicious, so savory, and so rich in flavor I was in awe. Immediately following that meal, brisket was all I wanted, all the time. Now, if you've ever made it, you know it's a labor of love. It takes time and patience, and more patience -- endless patience.
So, this recipe is a combination of recipes that my father formulated and I've taken my own spin on. As a result, and as usual, I will say: TASTE YOURS. Do yours to your liking, not my recipe.
Ingredients:
1 4lb beef brisket
kosher salt and ground black pepper
1/2 to 1 can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup water or chicken or beef broth
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery sticks, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, finely chopped
3 bay leaves
3 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/2-1 cup red wine
Take the meat and coat it in the salt and black pepper. Stick the raw brisket in the oven, at 375, allowing each side to sear slightly. While doing this, place all the other ingredients into your dutch oven, except the bay leaves. Make sure you have enough liquid to cover the meat, but not enough for it to be swimming in it. Then place the brisket in your dutch oven, which you'll want on medium to medium-high heat. Take the bay leaves, and using a spoon or spatula, pat them to the meat, ensuring they stay on the meat, not just floating around. Cover your dutch oven tightly, and allow it to cook, checking it frequently, for 3-4 hours.
For this recipe, I use a wooden spatula to check the meat's tenderness. You'll know it's ready because it will just fall apart to the touch.
You can add many things to this. Some recipes I referenced called for sugar, leeks, potatoes, parsley, chili powder, Sriracha, olive oil, brandy, mustard, etc. Feel free to comment and let me know what you added! Tweaking recipes is half the fun!
Happy cooking!
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