Best Texas Style Brisket Recipes

TEXAS-STYLE BARBECUED BRISKET

Steps:

• 1. Rinse the brisket under cold running water and blot it dry with paper towels.
• 2. Combine the salt, chili powder, sugar, pepper, and cumin in a bowl and toss with your fingers to mix. Rub the spice mixture on the brisket on all sides. If you have time, wrap the brisket in plastic and let it cure, in the refrigerator, for 4 to 8 hours (or even overnight), but don't worry if you don't have time for this-it will be plenty flavorful, even if you cook it right away.
• 3. Set up a charcoal grill for indirect grilling and preheat it to low. No drip pan is necessary for this recipe.
• 4. When ready to cook, toss 1 1/2 cups of the wood chips on the coals (3/4 cup per side). Place the brisket, fat side up, in an aluminum foil pan (or make a pan with a double sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil). Place the pan in the center of the hot grate, away from the heat. Cover the grill.
• 5. Smoke cook the brisket until tender enough to shred with your fingers; 6 hours will likely do it, but it may take as long as 8 (the cooking time will depend on the size of the brisket and heat of the grill). Baste the brisket from time to time with the fat and juices that accumulate in the pan. You'll need to add 10 to 12 fresh coals to each side every hour and toss more wood chips on the fresh coals; add about 3/4 cup chips per side every time you replenish the coals during the first 3 hours.
• 6. Remove the brisket pan from the grill and let rest for 15 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and thinly slice it across the grain, using a sharp knife, electric knife, or cleaver. Transfer the sliced meat to a platter, pour the pan juices on top, and serve at once.
• Barbecue Sauce, the Texas Way
• The best Texas-style barbecue sauce combines the sweetness of Kansas City-style tomato sauces with the mouth-puckering tartness of a North Carolina vinegar sauce. I've come up with my own version-mix together equal parts of the Basic Barbecue Sauce and the North Carolina Vinegar Sauce . Serve this with barbecued brisket. For a really good sauce, add some meat drippings or a little chopped brisket.

TEXAS-STYLE BRISKET

Steps:

• Trim fat on brisket to 1/2-inch thickness. Rub brisket with pepper and salt; place in a large disposable foil pan, fat side up. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight. Meanwhile, soak wood chips in water., To prepare grill for slow indirect cooking, adjust grill vents so top vent is half open and bottom vent is open only a quarter of the way. Make 2 arrangements of 45 unlit coals on opposite sides of the grill, leaving the center of the grill open. Light 20 additional coals until ash-covered; distribute over unlit coals. Sprinkle 2 cups soaked wood chips over lit coals., Replace grill rack. Close grill and allow temperature in grill to reach 275°, about 15 minutes., Place foil pan with brisket in center of grill rack; cover grill and cook 3 hours (do not open grill). Check temperature of grill periodically to maintain a temperature of 275° throughout cooking. Heat level may be adjusted by opening vents to raise temperature and closing vents partway to decrease temperature., Add another 10 unlit coals and 1 cup wood chips to each side of the grill. Cook brisket, covered, 3-4 hours longer or until fork-tender (a thermometer inserted in brisket should read about 190°); add coals and wood chips as needed to maintain a grill temperature of 275°., Remove brisket from grill. Cover tightly with foil; let stand 30-60 minutes. Cut brisket across the grain into slices.

TEXAS-STYLE BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• In a large bowl or shallow dish, combine the Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, bay leaves, garlic, celery salt, pepper and, if desired, liquid smoke. Cut brisket in half; add to bowl and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Transfer beef to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; add broth and bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until tender., For sauce, in a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the remaining ingredients; heat through., Remove brisket from the slow cooker; discard bay leaves. Place 1 cup cooking juices in a measuring cup; skim fat. Add to the barbecue sauce. Discard remaining juices., Return brisket to the slow cooker; top with sauce mixture. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Thinly slice beef across the grain; serve with sauce. Freeze option: Place individual portions of sliced brisket in freezer containers; top with barbecue sauce. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, gently stirring and adding a little water if necessary.

TEXAS STYLE BEEF BRISKET - SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• MARINATE THE NIGHT BEFORE: In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, bay leaves, garlic, celery salt, black pepper and Liquid Smoke, if desired.
• Cut brisket in half and place in the bag.
• Seal bag and turn to thoroughly coat brisket with seasonings.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• GET BEEF COOKING: Transfer beef to 5 or 6 quart slow cooker; add broth.
• Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or until tender.
• MAKE SAUCE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE BEEF IS DONE: In a small sauce pan, saute onion in canola oil until tender.
• Add garlic and cook one minute longer.
• Stir in remaining ingredients; heat through.
• SAUCE UP THE BRISKET: Remove brisket from the slow cooker; discard bay leaves.
• Place one cup cooking juices in a measuring cup; skim fat.
• Add skimmed, measured juices to the barbeque sauce.
• Discard any juices remaining in the slow cooker.
• Return brisket to the slow cooker with BBQ sauce mixture.
• Cover and cook on high for 30 more minutes to allow flavors to blend.
• TO SERVE: Thinly slice across the grain and serve with sauce.

SLOW COOKER TEXAS STYLE BEEF BRISKET RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients--except barbecue sauce--in a bowl, stir and pour over brisket. I like to marinate the brisket right in the slow cooker insert. Marinating is optional but it really adds to the flavor. Marinate brisket in the refrigerator over night if preferred, otherwise move to the next step. Note: If your brisket has a layer of fat, be sure to place the brisket fat side up in the slow cooker. After brisket is done and goes in the roaster pan, remove fat and discard before shredding, slicing or adding barbecue sauce. All all marinade ingredients into the slow cooker, stir and add brisket. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or until tender and easily flakes with a fork. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add brisket, along with 1/2 cup juices from the slow cooker, to a roasting pan. Discard the remaining liquid along with bay leafs. Either pull the brisket apart with 2 forks or slice thinly across the grain. Pour barbecue sauce over brisket and heat for 15 minutes. Serve on toasted wheat buns or rolls if desired. TIP: To lower the calories, fat and carbohydrates, simply cut the serving size in half...which will equal 1/2 cup.

TEXAS-STYLE CROCK POT BRISKET AND BEANS

Steps:

• Combine water, onion, and pinto beans in crock pot.
• Mix together ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce, vinegar, mustard, seasoned salt, Liquid Smoke, and brown sugar in separate bowl.
• Stir half of this mixture into beans in crock pot.
• Place brisket on top of beans (cut into two pieces, if needed).
• Spread the remaining mixture over brisket.
• Cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring twice, if possible.
• Slice meat across the grain and serve with sauce and with beans on the side.

SMOKED, SPICE RUBBED, TEXAS-STYLE BRISKET ON TEXAS TOAST

Steps:

• Mix together all the spices in a bowl. Liberally rub the entire brisket with the spices, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Remove the brisket from the refrigerator 1 hour before beginning the smoking process to take the chill off, and remove the plastic wrap.
• Get your smoker running at 225 degrees F with hardwood charcoal and a few handfuls of soaked wood chips. This temperature should be maintained throughout the entire smoke. (If you are using a grill: Set up the grill for indirect heat, banking the coals on one side of the grill and scattering the wood chips on top. Maintain the temperature at 225 degrees throughout the smoking process, adding chips as necessary, until you wrap the brisket in foil.)
• Place the brisket fat-side up on your smoker grate and close it up for the long smoke.
• Open your barbecue smoker every hour or 2 and spray the brisket liberally with apple juice to help keep the meat from drying out. Also keep apple juice in the water pan if you are using a water smoker.
• When the internal temperature reaches 165 to 170 degrees, after about 4 hours, wrap the brisket in aluminum foil and continue to cook for another 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours. This little trick is a big help in getting the meat tender, especially for beginners. Figure that a brisket smoked at around 200 degrees will take about 1 1/2 hours per pound. The brisket is done when the internal temperature reaches 185 degrees F. Remove and let rest 20 minutes before slicing. Remove the foil from the brisket over a large pan or disposable pan and reserve the liquid. Cut off the brisket points and reserve for another use (such as Honey-Rum Pinto Beans with Burnt Ends). After the points are removed, look to see which way the grain runs and slice thinly across the grain. Smear some barbecue sauce on Grilled Texas Toast, top with brisket and Pickled Red Onions.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high. Heat the oil in a small saute pan and cook the garlic for 1 minute. Let cool slightly. Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper. Grill the bread until lightly golden brown on both sides. Remove from the grill and spread 1 side of each slice with some of the garlic butter.
• Bring the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar and salt dissolves, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Add the onions and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.

TEXAS STYLE SMOKED BRISKET WITH MOPPIN' SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Combine all ingredients for the rub and rub all over your brisket wrap in foil and let sit overnight.
• 2. Combine all ingredients of the moppin sauce together and mix well.
• 3. Bring your smoker up to 220. I used hickory chips, but you can use mesquite, white birch, or apple wood.
• 4. Place brisket in smoker fat side up. Smoke 1 hour per pound using the moppin' sauce every half hour. Or until internal temperature reads 190 to 200 degrees.
• 5. I used a vertical water smoker if you don't use one with water wrap it in foil after 4 or 5 hours so that it stays moist.
• 6. Serve with baked potato and veggies and enjoy!

TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET

Steps:

• Set the brisket on a large sheet of plastic wrap.
• In a medium bowl combine the dark brown sugar, chili power, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne, dry mustard, and cumin thoroughly.
• Rub the mixture onto the brisket and wrap tightly in the plastic wrap.
• Place on a baking sheet and let marinate refrigerated at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Remove the meat from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature.
• Soak mesquite wood chips in a large bowl of water for 1 to 2 hours.
• Remove, drain and set aside.
• Prepare a smoker with charcoal and the wood chips according to the manufacturer's instructions to 180 to 200 degrees F.
• Place the water pan in the smoker and add water to the fill line, about 2/3 full.
• Place the unwrapped brisket on the lower rack off the direct heat, close the lid, and cook, regularly stoking the fire and adding additional chips, until an instant-read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F, about 4 to 5 hours.
• Remove the meat from the grill and let rest for 20 minutes before carving the meat against the grain.
• (Alternately, prepare a stove-top smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the unwrapped brisket on the rack over low heat. Close the lid and smoke for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Remove the meat from the smoker and wrap in) BBQ Sauce: In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the ketchup, brown sugar, cane syrup, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, hot sauce, Essence, and red pepper flakes and bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and the flavors marry, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let cool slightly before serving.
• Essence: Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET

Steps:

• 1 Order the brisket You'll have to special-order your brisket ahead of time (the brisket already sold at the meat counter is typically not whole). You should be able to do this at almost any butcher shop or at a grocery store meat counter. Ask for a brisket that is as evenly thick as possible, with the surrounding fat trimmed to 1/4" thick (this protects the meat from drying out while cooking).
• 2 Season the meat An hour before preparing the grill, place brisket on a rimmed baking sheet. Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl and season the meat all over (it should look like sand stuck to wet skin but without being cakey). Let meat sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
• 3 Prepare your grill Meanwhile, soak 6 cups wood chips in a bowl of water for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Leave in water throughout the cooking process. Keep remaining 2 cups chips dry. Light only 1 grill burner to medium (if using a 3-burner grill, light burner on either end). Make sure drip tray is empty, as a lot of fat will render. Place smoker box over the lit burner, add 1/2 cup soaked wood chips to box, and close grill. Adjust heat as needed to keep temperature at 225-250°F. We recommend using a stand-alone thermometer, even if your grill has one, to ensure an accurate reading. Stick it through the gap between the lid and base of the grill (or set it on the grill's upper shelf, though this is not ideal, as it requires opening the lid more frequently). The wood chips should begin to smolder and release a steady stream of smoke. How long this takes depends on how wet your chips are and the heat of your grill. To get more smoke without increasing grill heat, add a few dry chips to the soaked ones.
• 4 Maintain the heat Place brisket, fatty side up, on grill grate as far away from lit burner as possible. Cover grill and smoke meat, resisting the urge to open grill often, as this will cause the temperature to fluctuate. Adjust heat as needed to keep temperature steady at 225-250°F. Check wood chips every 45 minutes or so, and add soaked chips by 1/2-cupfuls as needed to keep smoke level constant.
• 5 Know when it's done Keep smoking the brisket, rotating every 3 hours and flipping as needed if top or bottom is coloring faster than the other, until meat is very tender but not falling apart and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of meat registers 195-205°F, 10-12 hours total.*
• *Need a cheat? If you just don't want to spend your whole day at the grill, here's a fail-safe, Aaron Franklin- endorsed alternate method that will deliver similarly glorious results: Smoke brisket on grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of meat registers 150-170°F, 5-6 hours. Wrap brisket in foil, place on a baking sheet, and cook in a 250°F oven until meat reaches the same 195-205°F internal temperature, 4-6 hours longer. What's important is getting that smoky flavor into the meat, and 5-6 hours on the grill should do it. After that point, you're simply getting the meat cooked through.
• DO AHEAD: Brisket is best shortly off the grill, but you can still get good results smoking it up to 3 days ahead. Let cool for an hour before wrapping in foil and chilling. To serve, reheat meat, still wrapped, in a 325°F oven until warmed through.
• 6 Dig in Transfer brisket to a carving board and let rest at least 30 minutes. Slice brisket against the grain 1/4" thick.
• Serve it with: Coleslaw, potato salad, and pinto beans.

TEXAS-STYLE BBQ BEEF BRISKET SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Place meat in slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray, cutting into 2 pieces if necessary to fit; top with yellow onions and barbecue sauce. Cover with lid. Cook on LOW 10 to 12 hours (or on HIGH 5 to 6 hours).
• Remove meat from slow cooker; cut across the grain into thin slices. Return to slow cooker; stir until evenly coated with sauce. Combine coleslaw blend, dressing and green onions.
• Fill rolls with meat mixture and coleslaw just before serving.

TEXAS-STYLE BARBECUED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 6 quart slow cooker, add onion and garlic. Stir together chili powder and next 5 ingredients. Rub over brisket and place brisket over onion mixture in slow cooker.
• Whisk together beer and chili sauce. Slowly pour mixture around brisket, avoid removing spices from brisket.
• Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or high 4 to 5 hours. When done uncover and let sit in cooker 20 minutes.
• Remove brisket from slow cooker; cut brisket across the grain into thin slices put on serving plate and spoon pan juices over meat.

TEXAS-STYLE BRISKET

Steps:

• Prepare a smoker for cooking at 250 to 275 degrees F.
• Trim the fat cap on the brisket to 1/4 inch, then trim out the top and bottom fat. Trim the lean flat edges so the meat is at least 1 1/2-inches thick.
• Stir together the salt and pepper in a bowl until well blended to make the rub.
• Shake an even layer of the rub on all surfaces of the brisket that will be exposed to the smoke. Do not pack the rub into folds or cracks, since that will turn the rub into a soggy paste.
• Place the brisket in the smoker with the fatty point closest to the firebox. Smoke for 2 hours, rotating the brisket occasionally for even coloring and to prevent the edges from drying out. Spritz the brisket liberally with apple juice and continue smoking the brisket, spritzing every 30 minutes, until the meat has a dark mahogany color and the internal temperature reaches 203 to 205 degrees F, another 10 to 12 hours. Wrap the brisket tightly in unwaxed butcher paper and let rest 45 minutes to 1 hour before slicing and chopping. Serve with Original BBQ Sauce if using.
• Combine the ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire, molasses, brown sugar, hot sauce and lemon juice together in a large pot and whisk until blended. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, then add the chili powder, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper and cayenne. Continue to simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep from burning.

OLD STYLE TEXAS BOILED BRISKET

Steps:

• Cover one brisket flat with water to in large pot and cook on stovetop. Add a little salt and black pepper, a drop or two of worceshire, a little splash of lemon juice, crush 3 or 4 cloves of garlic and add to pot. a small sprinkling of thyme. when brisket begins to pull apart with two forks you may want to add a little crushed red pepper.
• The key here is not to over-do the spices, it should still taste like beef and not chili or spicy bbq. You could basically just boil the meat until tender and add salt and pepper after its done. Serve on plain warmed buns slathered with mayonnaise with dill pickles and onion slices.
• As the brisket cooks the water will go away. You may need to add a little water during the cooking process, but near the end when the meat muscle fibers begin to break down the water will just sort of dissolve and the meat will be very tender. Cooking time is determined by size of meat and heat. You could speed it up some with a higher setting, but I cook on big burner on a setting of about 3-4 (out of 10max) after bringing it to a boil. A typical trimmed brisket flat works great for this because it fits in a stovetop pot, and doesn't take too long- should be ready in 4-5 hours cooked slowly until the meat is easily pulled apart with two forks.

SLOW-COOKED, TEXAS-STYLE BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• Place the beef brisket in a large slow cooker with the fat side up.
• Pour the coffee over the meat.
• Cook the brisket on low for 24 hours.
• Meanwhile, stir together the ketchup, cola, worchestershire sauce, mustard, liquid smoke and brown sugar in a bowl until well blended.
• Refrigerate until needed.
• After 24 hours of cooking, remove and discard any fat from the meat.
• Use forks to pull the meat apart and shred the meat.
• Pour the sauce over the meat, stirring to coat evenly and cook 1 hour longer.

TEXAS STYLE BARBECUED BEEF BRISKET

Steps:

• 1. Lightly grease a 6 quart slow cooker; add onion and garlic.
• 2. Stir together the chili powder and the next 5 ingredients. Rub over the brisket; place the brisket over the onion mixture in the slow cooker.
• 3. Whisk together beer and chili sauce. Slowly pour the mixture around the brisket (to avoid removing spices from the brisket).
• 4. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, or until fork tender. Uncover and let stand in the slow cooker for 20 minutes.
• 5. Remove the brisket from the slow cooker; cut brisket across the grain into thin slices. Return brisket to the slow cooker, and spoon the pan juices over the meat.

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, trim the brisket: Set the brisket flat side down, so the leaner side is underneath and the rounded, fatty point side is on top. Wherever you find a thick sheath of fat on the top surface, trim it to within 1/4 inch of the meat. Now look at the side of the brisket: There's a large pocket of fat between the point and the flat. Using the point of the knife, cut some of it out, but avoid cutting directly into the meat. Turn the brisket so the flat faces up. There's a lump of fat on one side: Again, trim it to within 1/4 inch of the meat. Be careful not to overtrim. It's better to err on the side of too much fat than too little. While you're at it, trim off any thin, sharp corners of the flat part of the meat, so the brisket is slightly rounded.
• Season the brisket: Place the brisket on a rimmed sheet pan and generously season the top, bottom and sides with salt, pepper and, if you like your brisket spicy, red-pepper flakes.
• Create a platform for cooking the brisket by cutting a flat piece of cardboard the size and shape of the brisket. (There's no need to make it any larger; the brisket will shrink considerably during cooking.) Wrap the cardboard template in 2 layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Using an ice pick, a metal skewer or other sharp implement, poke holes in the foil-covered cardboard at 1-inch intervals. The idea is to create a perforated platform for the brisket. Set the brisket flat on the foil-covered cardboard, lean side down. (This prevents the lean bottom of the brisket flat from drying out and burning, while the holes still let in the smoke.)
• Light your grill, smoker or cooker (such as a Big Green Egg) and heat it to 250 degrees. If using a kettle grill, start with less charcoal than you would for grilling a steak: A third to a half chimney starter will do it. If using a smoker, place a large heat-proof bowl of water in the smoke chamber. (This is optional, but it creates a humid environment that will keep your brisket moist and help the smoke adhere to the meat.) Add wood as specified by the manufacturer to generate smoke. If using a kamado-style cooker, set up a top-down burn: Load the fire box with lump charcoal, interspersing it with wood chunks or chips. Light 3 or 4 coals on top in the center; gradually, they'll burn down, igniting the coals and wood beneath them.)
• Transfer the brisket on the foil-lined cardboard to the smoker. If using an offset smoker, position the thicker end toward the firebox. Cook the brisket until the outside is dark and the internal temperature registers about 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. This normally takes 6 to 8 hours. Refuel your cooker as needed, adding wood to obtain a steady stream of smoke. If the outside of the brisket darkens too much, loosely lay a sheet of foil on top. (Don't bunch it, or the meat will steam rather than smoke, resulting in a pot roast-like consistency.)
• Wrap the brisket: Lay 2 overlapping sheets of pink (unlined) butcher paper or parchment paper on your work surface. Each piece should be about 3 feet long. You want to create a square about 3 feet on each side. Wearing heatproof rubber or silicone gloves (or carefully using tongs), transfer the brisket to the center of this paper square. Fold the bottom section over the brisket. Fold in the sides and roll the brisket over so it's completely swaddled in paper. (It's a little like making a burrito.) Note the orientation: You want the fatty point of the brisket to remain on top. Carefully set the wrapped brisket back on the foil-lined cardboard and return it to the cooker.
• Continue cooking the brisket to an internal temperature of 200 to 205 degrees (it will be deeply browned and very tender), another 2 to 4 hours, bringing your total cooking time to 8 to 12 hours, depending on your cooker and the size of your brisket. (Start monitoring the internal temperature at the 8-hour mark.) Additional tests for doneness include the jiggle test: Grab the brisket with a gloved hand and shake it; the meat will jiggle like Jell-O. You could also try the bend test: Lift both ends and it will bend easily in the middle, or place a gloved hand under the center of the brisket and the ends will droop.
• You can eat the brisket now. But there's one more optional step that will take your brisket from excellent to sublime: Let it rest. Place the wrapped brisket in an insulated cooler to rest for 1 to 2 hours, allowing the meat to relax and the juices to redistribute.
• To serve the brisket, unwrap it over a sheet pan to catch any juices trapped in the paper. Transfer the brisket to a cutting board (ideally, one with a well), lean flat section down. Cut the brisket in half crosswise, separating the flat section from the point section. The corner of the flat furthest from the sliced side may be tough and dry. Make a diagonal cut to remove it. Dice it and serve as burnt ends to thank onlookers for their patience. Look for the grain of the meat. Using a serrated knife or sharp carving knife, slice this section as thickly or as thinly as desired. (Texas tradition calls for slices that are the thickness of a pencil.) If your brisket has somehow come out tough, slice it paper-thin, which will make it seem more tender.
• Now slice the point section: Again, trim off and discard any obvious large lumps of fat. Slice the meat across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices (or as desired). Arrange the slices on a platter or plates and spoon the reserved meat drippings over them. It's nice to serve the meat by itself so you can appreciate the complex interplay of salt, spice, smoke, meat and fat. Texas tradition calls for sliced factory-style white bread. If you opt for barbecue sauce, serve it on the side.

TEXAS BRISKET CAJA CHINA STYLE RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. Combine all the ingredients in a jar and blend thoroughly.
• 2. To prepare the brisket before placing in the pig roaster (Note: a Caja China does much more that just bbq pig!) place it on the baking sheet and add plenty of dry rub to all the meat surfaces. Be sure your caja china box is on a dry, level surface. Have 20-25 lbs of Kings ford charcoal on hand.
• 3. Begin roasting with the fat side of the brisket up. Start the fire on the charcoal grid of your La Caja Asadora or La Caja China model pig roasters, and allow 20 minutes for the coals to burn evenly. Spread the charcoal evenly over the surface of your roast box. After an hour brush the brisket with the basting or barbecue sauce and add 4-5 lbs of charcoal evenly over the burning coals. After the second hour seal the baking sheet with aluminum foil, using oven mitts to carefully apply it.
• 4. Recover your caja china with the charcoal pan and grid. Add an additional 2-3 lbs. of charcoal at this point. After the third hour you are ready to check the temperature of the brisket using your meat thermometer. The desired internal temperature is 180 degrees.
• 5. Once the brisket has reached the desired temperature, remove it from your Cajun microwave style roaster and let rest before carving. Serve with warm barbecue sauce on the side.
• 6. You'll want to be sure to have lots of napkins available for this one! Enjoy!

BRISKET, EAST TEXAS STYLE

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot combine beef stock, wine, bay leaves, peppercorns, garlic and salt; over medium heat, bring to a low boil. Place brisket in boiling mixture, fat side up, and cook at a low simmer for 4 1/2 hours, or until tender.
• Remove brisket from pan and place on the top rack of a grill or smoker and cook for 1 hour. Baste with BBQ sauce. Remove from grill or smoker and let cool for 15 minutes. Slice thinly and serve.

COFFEE-RUBBED TEXAS-STYLE BRISKET

Steps:

• Soak the wood chips in water at least 1 hour.
• Combine coffee, salt, brown sugar, paprika, chile powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and black pepper in a bowl. Pat brisket dry; rub with coffee mixture.
• Remove grill rack, and set aside. Prepare grill for indirect grilling, heating one side to high and leaving one side with no heat. Pierce bottom of a disposable aluminum foil pan several times with the tip of a knife. Place pan on heat element on heated side of grill; add 1 1/2 cups wood chips to pan. Place another disposable aluminum foil pan (do not pierce pan) on unheated side of grill. Pour 2 cups water in pan. Let chips stand for 15 minutes or until smoking; reduce heat to medium-low. Maintain temperature at 225°. Place grill rack on grill. Place the brisket in a small roasting pan, and place pan on grill rack on unheated side. Close lid; cook for 6 hours or until a meat thermometer registers 195°. Add 1 1/2 cups wood chips every hour for first 4 hours; cover pan with foil for remaining 2 hours. Remove from grill. Let stand, covered, 30 minutes.
• Unwrap brisket, reserving juices; trim and discard fat. Place a large zip-top plastic bag inside a 4-cup glass measure. Pour juices through a sieve into bag; discard solids. Let drippings stand for 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into a bowl, stopping before fat reaches opening; discard fat. Cut brisket across grain into thin slices; serve with juices.