BRAISED BRISKET WITH ROOT VEGETABLES

Braised Brisket with Root Vegetables image

It's a toss-up which part of this dish is best: the tender meat with rich tomato flavor, or the luscious root vegetables that sit beneath it during braising, soaking up juices from the brisket and wine.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 5h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

One 4-pound beef brisket, preferably first cut, trimmed of excess fat
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 cup dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch-long pieces
1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 3-inch-long pieces, halved lengthwise if very thick

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pat the brisket dry and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large stovetop-safe roasting pan over medium heat. Add the brisket and cook, turning with tongs, until browned on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a plate and set aside.
Add the onions, garlic and thyme to the pan. Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the wine and 1/2 cup water, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the tomatoes with the juices from the can, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Return the beef to the pan along with any accumulated juices; increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer.
Remove the roasting pan from the heat and add the potatoes, carrots and parsnips around the sides of the brisket. Tightly cover the roasting pan with aluminum foil and roast until the brisket is very tender and a fork will easily pierce it, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and the vegetables to a large serving platter. Cover and keep warm. Skim the fat from the top of the juices in the roasting pan. Place the roasting pan over medium heat on the stovetop and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sauce has reduced by more than half and is similar to a thick gravy, 15 to 20 minutes. Slice the brisket against the grain and transfer to the platter with the vegetables. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and spoon a bit over the slices. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.