Onion-Braised Beef Brisket Easy Recipe - Cooking Frog (2024)

From the rustic kitchens of our ancestors to the chic restaurants of modern cities, the braised beef brisket has traveled through time, evolving with each generation. This dish, a symbol of culinary heritage, has been reinvented numerous times, yet its soul remains intact.

Today, as we stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, we present a beef brisket recipe that grabs the essence of this voyage, combining age-old techniques with modern flavors.

Beef Brisket – The Urban Culinary Tale

In the bustling streets of New York City, amidst the neon lights and the cacophony of urban life, lies a hidden jewel: a small, secretive restaurant known only to the locals. It was here that this modern version of the beef brisket was born.

Inspired by the city’s melting pot of cultures, the chef infused the classic brisket with flavors reminiscent of the city’s diverse palate.

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket Easy Recipe - Cooking Frog (1)

Picking the Perfect Cut

The core of this dish lies in its primary ingredient: the brisket. While various cuts are available, the first-cut or flat-cut brisket is the star. Distinguished by its lean texture with a generous fat cap, it ensures a juicy and flavorful outcome.

Variations to Spice Up Your Braised Beef Brisket

Braised beef brisket is an adaptable dish that lends itself to various flavors and adaptations. Whether you’re looking to boost it with international flavors or want to try a different twist, here are some variations to consider:

  1. Asian-Inspired Brisket: Add a mix of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, star anise, and ginger to your braising liquid. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
  2. BBQ Brisket: Slather your brisket with your favorite BBQ sauce before braising. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar and a touch of smoked paprika to the braising liquid for that smoky BBQ flavor.
  3. Mediterranean Twist: Combine olives, capers, and sun-dried tomatoes into your braising mix. Finish with a sprinkle of feta cheese and fresh basil.
  4. Spicy Kick: Add some chopped chipotle peppers or a few dashes of hot sauce to the braising liquid for those who like it hot. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
  5. Sweet and Savory: Add a blend of dried fruits like apricots, prunes, and raisins. The sweetness of the fruits complements the savory notes of the brisket beautifully.
  6. Wine-Braised Brisket: Swap some of the braising liquid with a good quality red wine. This adds depth and richness to the sauce.
  7. Creamy Mushroom Brisket: Add various mushrooms and a splash of heavy cream or sour cream to the braising liquid for a creamy, earthy tone.
  8. Herb-Infused: Use a bouquet garni (a bundle of herbs) with rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves in your braising liquid for a fragrant and herbaceous flavor profile.

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket Easy Recipe - Cooking Frog (2)

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket Recipe

Unearth the charm of classic flavors with our Onion-Braised Beef Brisket recipe. With straightforward steps and promises of delectable results, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and embark on a delightful cooking experience.

Ingredients:

  • 1 5-6 pound first-cut beef brisket, with a thin layer of fat
  • 1½ tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or matzo cake meal for Passover)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 8 medium yellow onions, sliced ½-inch thick
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 6 carrots, sliced into large chunks diagonally

For the Urban Twist:

  • 2 stalks lemongrass, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • A dash of smoked paprika

Instructions:

  • Setting the Stage: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Season your brisket generously with salt and pepper as it warms, followed by a light dusting of flour.
  • Golden Sear: In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil. Once shimmering, add your brisket, searing both sides to a beautiful golden brown. Remove and set aside.
  • Onion Symphony: In the residual oil, sauté the onions until they obtain a rich, golden hue. The fragrance will be your signal to move to the next step.
  • Layering Magic: Gently place your brisket over the onions. Spread the tomato paste, ensuring an even coat. Add garlic, carrots, lemongrass, and the other ingredients, creating a layered masterpiece.
  • The Slow Dance: Seal your pot with aluminum foil or a tight-fitting lid. Let it cook in the oven for about 1½ hours.
  • Precision Slicing: Post braising, transfer the brisket to a board. Slice against the grain, aiming for 1/6 – 1/4-inch-thick slices. Return them to the pot, ensuring a slight overlap.
  • The Final Act: Reduce the oven’s heat to 325°F. Let the brisket cook until it achieves a fork-tender consistency, roughly another 1 to 2 hours.
  • Rest & Serve: While the brisket is a delight immediately, letting it rest overnight enhances its flavors, making it a true culinary masterpiece.

If you enjoyed making this Onion-Braised Beef Brisket recipe, how about sharing the love? Pin the picture below to your Pinterest. Your friends might thank you for their next dinner inspiration!

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket Easy Recipe - Cooking Frog (3)

Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Braised Beef Brisket

Executing the perfect braised beef brisket needs more than just following a recipe. It’s about comprehending the nuances of the meat, the intricacies of braising, and the little secrets that can boost your dish from good to outstanding.

Here are some tried-and-true tips and tricks to ensure your brisket is the star of any meal:

Choosing the Right Cut: Always opt for a first-cut or flat-cut brisket. It has the proper balance of meat and fat, ensuring a tender outcome.

Marbling Matters: Look for a brisket with good marbling. These fat streaks melt during cooking, infusing the meat with flavor and preserving it moist.

Slow and Steady: Braising is a slow-cooking method. Resist the urge to raise the temperature to speed up the process. Low and slow is the key to a tender brisket.

Rest Before Slicing: After braising, let your brisket rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to be redistributed, ensuring a moist slice every time.

Against the Grain: Always slice your brisket against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers, making each piece more tender.

Overnight Magic: If time allows, refrigerate your cooked brisket overnight. This not only improves the flavors but also makes slicing easier.

Skim the Fat: After braising, there might be extra fat on the surface of the sauce. Use a spoon to skim it off for a cleaner, more decadent sauce.

Herb Infusion: For an added layer of flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to the braising liquid.

Storage: Brisket tastes even better the next day. Store it in the refrigerator in its sauce to keep it moist. When reheating, do so gently to retain its tenderness.

4.4/5 (7 Reviews)

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket Easy Recipe - Cooking Frog (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking method for brisket? ›

All brisket, no matter which cut you choose, is a tough cut of meat that needs to be cooked low and slow: think oven, slow cooker or indirect heat on a grill.

Why is my braised brisket not tender? ›

There's two possibilities that I can see assuming usual stewing times.
  1. It wasn't cooked long and slow enough. That's simple, as stewing beef, like any beef cooked low and slow take hours to get it done right. ...
  2. It was cooked TOO long. There actually is the possibility of overcooking when low and slow.
Feb 14, 2023

Should you braise a brisket? ›

When brisket is done right, there is perhaps no better cut of beef to braise, especially when serving a crowd. It's beefy, velvety, and moist, and it slices beautifully.

What is the best liquid to keep brisket moist? ›

After two or four hours of cooking, you can lightly spray your brisket with water, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, or apple juice. You can do this every 30 minutes or every hour, based on preference.

Why won't my brisket get tender? ›

Brisket contains a lot of connective tissue, which can make it tough. The type of connective tissue in brisket is called collagen. Cook the meat quickly and you get tough, dry meat. Cook a brisket slowly, with some liquid, and the collagen turns into gelatin.

Does brisket get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The temperature of the meat begins to rise again -- which you want because brisket gets more tender the longer you cook it.

What tenderizes brisket? ›

Slow cook it. Tough cuts of meat with lots of connective tissue, like brisket, chuck roast, and bottom round, are some of the best choices for the slow cooker. Cooked low and slow for many hours, the collagen in these tough cuts eventually breaks, leaving you with shreds of tender, juicy meat.

What is the best liquid to braise beef with? ›

It can be broth, wine, beer, or any other flavorful liquid. The broth is a good all-purpose liquid, as it is flavorful and adds moisture to the meat. Wine can also be used, and it will add a deep flavor to the braised dish. Beer can also be used, and it will add a malty flavor.

How long to braise a brisket at 225? ›

Smoked & Braised Beef Brisket
  1. Smoke at 225 degrees fat side up for 4 hours keeping meat as moist as possible during cook.
  2. Transfer to a roasting pan and set on top of sliced onions so the meat is not touching the bottom of the roasting pan. ...
  3. Cover and cook at 300 degrees until the meat is tender but not falling apart.
Jan 31, 2023

Do you braise brisket fat side up or down? ›

To set things straight, we're here to put an end to the confusion, so you can get back to the grill with confidence. For brisket cooked to flavorful perfection, fat-side-down is the way to go. This is the only way to achieve a brisket that is perfectly moist with a perfect bark on both sides.

How do I get my brisket to be more tender? ›

You simply let the brisket simmer slowly and gently in a cooking liquid for tender, juicy slices of meat. In many slow-cooker preparations, the vegetables can cook alongside the meat. The cooking liquid becomes a sauce to serve with the brisket.

What is the key to a juicy brisket? ›

Importance of Marbling

The fat melts as it cooks, infusing the brisket with incredible moisture and flavor. Marbling enhances brisket by naturally tenderizing the muscle fibers during low and slow cooking. For those dedicated to their brisket game, the main thing to remember is prioritizing marbling is key.

How do you keep brisket from getting tough? ›

The type of connective tissue in brisket is called collagen. Cook the meat quickly and you get tough, dry meat. Cook a brisket slowly, with some liquid, and the collagen turns into gelatin. A tender and moist brisket is the result.

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