Best Brisket Braised With Dried Fruit Recipes

BRISKET BRAISED WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Pat brisket dry.
• Heat the oil over moderately-high heat until rippling and brown the brisket on all sides.
• Transfer it to a plate and season.
• In the remaining oil, saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes and add brisket, any juices that have accumulated on plate and wine.
• Bring to a boil and braise, covered, over low heat, for 3 hours and 30 minutes, or until it is almost tender.
• Let apricots, apples, raisins and currants plump in 1 ½ cups hot water for 1 hour and drain fruit, reserving water.
• In a small, dry skillet, brown the flour over moderately-high heat, stirring constantly, and remove from heat.
• Add reserved water to brisket and whisk in browned flour.
• Add fruit and simmer, covered, 45 minutes, or until fruit is soft and brisket is very tender.
• Let cool, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• Slice brisket very thin across grain and serve with fruit and sauce.
• It will be even more flavourful if chilled overnight and reheated in sauce over moderately-low heat.

THE ULTIMATE BRAISED BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Drizzle brisket liberally with olive oil then season the meat on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Place a large Dutch oven or heavy-based pot over medium-high heat and add a 3-count of olive oil. Place the brisket in the pot and sear on both sides to form a nice brown crust. Remove from pot and set aside before adding carrots, onion and celery. Brown vegetables, then add the garlic, tomatoes, red wine, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, and parsley. Add the brisket back to the pot, cover and roast in the oven for 3 hours until the brisket is fork tender.
• Remove the brisket to a cutting board and let it rest for 15 minutes. Strain out the vegetables and pour off some of the excess fat, then pour over the brisket.
• Slice brisket across the grain and serve over parsnip puree with roasted red onions and garnish with parsley.

WINE-BRAISED BRISKET WITH TART CHERRIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Whisk together matzoh meal with 1 tablespoon kosher salt (2 teaspoons fine) and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pat brisket dry and dredge in matzoh mixture, shaking off excess.
• Set roasting pan across 2 burners and in it heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until oil shimmers. Brown brisket (fat side down first if using first cut) on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a large platter or rimmed baking sheet.
• If necessary, add remaining tablespoon oil, then reduce heat to medium, and cook shallots, turning occasionally, until they begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Add wine and boil until liquid is reduced by half, then stir in chicken stock, cherries, sugar, balsamic vinegar, star anise, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon fine salt). Bring to a simmer and return brisket, fat side up, to pan. Cover pan tightly with heavy-duty foil or a double layer of regular foil, and braise in oven for 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, blanch carrots in a 3-quart pot of well-salted boiling water. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and pat dry.
• Add carrots to roasting pan (after meat has braised for 2 hours), then cover again tightly with foil, and continue to braise in oven, until meat is fork-tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours more.
• If serving soon, transfer meat to a cutting board and let it rest, loosely covered, 15 minutes, then slice meat across the grain. Skim off any excess fat from surface of sauce, then discard star anise, and season to taste with salt. Reheat sauce, then return sliced meat to sauce to reheat before serving. Serve meat with sauce and carrots on a large deep platter. (If making brisket ahead, see Cooks' Notes.)

BRISKET WITH DRIED FRUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a large roasting pan over high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Brown beef in pan all over, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter. Add onions and garlic to pan; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring, until onions just turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and juice, the stock, and vinegar; bring to a boil.
• Return meat to pan; cover with foil. Cook in oven until fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn meat; add sauerkraut and dried fruits. Cover; cook until meat is very tender and sauce is reduced, about 1 1/2 hours. Let stand 30 minutes. Slice meat against the grain. Serve with sauce.

BRISKET WITH DRIED APRICOTS, PRUNES, AND AROMATIC SPICES

Steps:

• Combine 1/3 cup apricots, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in processor. Using on/off turns, chop to coarse puree. Using small sharp knife, make 1/2-inch-deep slits all over brisket. Set aside 1 tablespoon apricot mixture. Press remaining apricot mixture into slits.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 300°F. Heat oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle brisket all over with salt and pepper. Add brisket to pot and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate, fat side up; spread with reserved 1 tablespoon apricot mixture. Add onions to same pot. Sauté over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Add carrots, ginger, coriander, cayenne pepper, remaining 6 garlic cloves and 2 1/2 teaspoons cumin; sauté 3 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced almost to glaze, stirring up any browned bits, about 5 minutes. Return brisket to pot. Add stock and bring to simmer. Spoon some of vegetable mixture over brisket.
• Cover pot and place in oven. Roast brisket 2 1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices. Add prunes and remaining 1/3 cup apricots. Cover; roast until brisket is tender, about 30 minutes longer. Cool brisket uncovered 1 hour. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled overnight.
• Spoon off any solid fat from top of gravy; discard fat. Scrape gravy off brisket into pot. Place brisket on work surface. Slice brisket thinly across grain. Bring gr avy in pot to boil over medium-high heat. Boil to thicken slightly, if desired. Season gravy with salt and pepper. Arrange sliced brisket in large ovenproof dish. Spoon gravy over. Cover with foil. (Can be made 2 days ahead; refrigerate.)
• Rewarm covered brisket in 350°F oven about 30 minutes (or 40 minutes if chilled). Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.