Instant Pot Brisket: A Tender, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Dish

Instant Pot Brisket: A Tender, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Dish

What better centrepiece than a succulent, melt-in-your-mouth Instant Pot brisket?

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large yellow onion

• 1 beef brisket, preferably flat-cut (1.3 - 1.5kg)

• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 1/3 cup beef broth

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar

• 1/3 cup tomato paste

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• Fresh parsley, for serving (optional)

Instructions

• Thinly slice 1 large onion. Ensure that the surface fat on a 1.3 to 1.5-kilogram beef brisket is no more than 1/4 inch thick, trimming it as needed. If necessary, cut the brisket in half to accommodate it in a 6-liter or larger electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Evenly season the brisket with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

• Using the highest Sauté function on the pressure cooker, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil until shimmering. Sear the brisket, undisturbed, until browned on the bottom, which takes about 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the brisket and brown the other side for an additional 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the seared brisket to a large plate.

• Add the sliced onion and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt to the pressure cooker. Sauté the onions until tender, ensuring to scrape brown bits from the bottom of the pot, a process that typically takes 4 to 6 minutes.

• Now, incorporate 1/3 cup beef broth, 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, 1/3 cup tomato paste, 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder. Return the seared brisket to the pot, overlapping the pieces if necessary.

• Seal the lid and set the pressure cooker to cook for 70 minutes under HIGH pressure. It will require 5 to 7 minutes to come up to pressure.

• After the cooking time elapses, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 to 25 minutes. Carefully open the pressure cooker and transfer the brisket to a cutting board.

• Finally, slice the brisket across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Serve the brisket with the onions and gravy. Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley.

RECIPE NOTES

Make ahead: The brisket can be prepared up to 3 days in advance. Keep the brisket covered with the gravy and reheat it along with the gravy in a baking dish covered with aluminum foil in a low oven.

Storage: Leftovers remain delicious for up to 5 days. Store the beef covered in gravy to maintain its moisture.

Sauce variation: For a velvety sauce, filter the gravy through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Return the onions and garlic to the Instant Pot. Pour the gravy into a fat separator, then transfer it back into the Instant Pot. Utilize an immersion blender to blend the sauce until it achieves a smooth consistency.

Nach Waxman's Brisket of Beef

Nach Waxman's Brisket of Beef

The most Googled brisket recipe on the internet.

Our neighbourhood is home to a brisket queen. She religiously buys 3kg of beef brisket every week to satisfy her family's craving for this juicy, flavourful dish.

Her brisket is so legendary that her friends and neighbours eagerly await their weekly dose. Whenever she's invited to a gathering, her first offer is always, "Is there anything I can bring?" And without fail, the response is always a resounding chorus of "YOUR BRISKET PLEASE!"

The secret behind this magical brisket? Nach Waxman's recipe, is the most Googled brisket recipe on the internet. Its simplicity and focus on quality ingredients let the beef shine through, creating a dish that's both comforting and unforgettable.

So, ditch waiting for an invitation to savour this brisket bliss. Take the initiative and become the brisket host everyone wants to connect with.

Ingredients

• 1 (2.7kg) Continental Kosher Butchers Beef brisket, trimmed with a thin layer of fat remaining

• 2 teaspoons Lewis & Son Matzo meal

• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

• 3 tablespoons neutral oil

• 8 medium onions, peeled and thickly sliced

• 3 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 carrot, peeled and halved

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).

• In a small bowl, combine matzo meal and pepper. Lightly dust the brisket with the matzo meal mixture, ensuring even coverage.

• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof enamelled cast-iron pot or other heavy pot with a lid that fits snugly over the brisket.

• Carefully place the brisket in the hot oil and sear on both sides until crusty brown areas appear, approximately 5-7 minutes per side.

• Transfer the seared brisket to a plate and set aside.

• Add the sliced onions to the pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Continue cooking until the onions have softened and developed a rich brown colour, approximately 10-15 minutes.

• Return the brisket and any accumulated juices to the pot, placing it on top of the softened onions.

• Spread the tomato paste evenly over the brisket, ensuring complete coverage.

• Sprinkle the kosher salt and additional pepper to taste.

• Add the minced garlic and halved carrot to the pot.

• Cover the pot tightly with a lid and carefully transfer it to the preheated oven.

• Bake the brisket for 1 1/2 hours.

• Remove the brisket from the oven and carefully transfer it to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice the brisket against the grain into thin slices, approximately 1/8-inch thick.

• Return the sliced brisket to the pot, arranging the slices in an overlapping pattern, ensuring that the top edge of each slice is slightly visible. The final arrangement should resemble the original unsliced brisket, leaning slightly backward.

• If the sauce appears dry, add 2-3 teaspoons of water to the pot.

• Cover the pot tightly with a lid and return it to the oven.

• Reduce the oven temperature to 165°C (325°F) and continue cooking the brisket for another 1 1/2-2 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender.

• During cooking, check the brisket once or twice to ensure that the liquid is not boiling away. If necessary, add a few more teaspoons of water, ensuring not to overfill the pot. Spoon some of the liquid from the pot over the brisket to keep it moist.

• Once the brisket is fork-tender, remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

• Serve the brisket with its flavourful juices, accompanied by your favourite side dishes.

Tips

• For a richer flavour, use beef tallow instead of neutral oil.

• If you don't have Lewis & Son Matzo meal, you can substitute it with breadcrumbs.

• Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary to the pot during the final hour of cooking for an extra burst of flavour.

• Serve the brisket with a side of Eskal horseradish or gravy, if desired.

Enjoy this delicious and traditional kosher brisket recipe!