Basic Brisket with Root Vegetables
Brisket is a popular Ashkenazi Jewish dish of braised beef brisket, served hot and traditionally accompanied by non-dairy kugel, latkes and/or matzo ball soup. It is commonly served for Jewish holidays, such as Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Shabbat.
Ingredients:
2.5-lb. first-cut brisket
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 onions
4 carrots
2 parsnips
4 celery stalks
1 turnip
1½ cups vegetable broth (3 cups if not using wine)
1½ cups dry red wine
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
In a small bowl combine the salt, paprika, pepper and garlic powder.
Pat the meat dry and coat (on all sides) with the spice mixture.
Peel and dice all the vegetables.
Place ¾ of the vegetables in a deep baking dish. Place the meat on top, followed by the remaining vegetables, and bake, uncovered, at 450°F for 30 minutes.
Remove pan from the oven, then add the wine (if using) and broth. Turn the oven down to 250°F. Cover the pan tightly, and return to the oven for 4-5 hours, until a fork goes into the meat with virtually no resistance. (Halfway through the cooking, take the pan out and turn the roast over.)
Refrigerate overnight, then slice thinly against the grain and return to the pan. Reheat with the vegetables/sauce.
Note: A good (and substantially cheaper) substitute for first-cut brisket is a cut often labeled “top of the rib roast.” It should look similar to a first-cut brisket (flat and thin) and if you’re unsure, check with your butcher, since many butchers label cuts differently.
