Spice-Rubbed Braised Brisket Recipe (2024)

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golden hills

Trader Joe's has pomegranate juice much cheaper than PomWonderful. Buy your pistachios at TJ as well. Google Lynda Resnick or Stewart Resnick to see how much water their trees use (more than all LA homes) or how they got control of a water bank the CA tax payers spent millions on. They also own a bunch of other brands. I know this isn't the place to get political but please read a little about them before you give them your money.

Evan

Absolutely the place to get political if there's something relevant of concern! Thanks for letting us know.P.S. Avoiding problematic companies isn't political, really. It's just being a responsible consumer!

Prakash Nadkarni

Brisket is ideally suited for Instant-Pot cooking: just combine ingredients, turn cooker off when done. (Browning meat is nice but optional.) See lemonblossoms.com/blog/instant-pot-brisket/. It takes 75 min for a 4-5 Lb cut, less if you cheat and carve the brisket - into somewhat thicker slices - BEFORE cooking. (Use a VERY sharp knife). A little coffee (as here) and/or cocoa/chocolate adds pleasant complexity when combined with acid sources (tomato, vinegar, red wine): try it with chili.

Prakash Nadkarni

@Home Cook: It WILL work without coffee, but then you might want to use 1/2 - 3/4 cup pomegranate juice instead of 1 1/2 cups. Coffee, which is bitter, and the juice, which is acid/sour (as is the wine) sort of cancel each other out to yield a mellow, complex result. Without the coffee, the juice's sourness might dominate.

Luann

This is the only brisket I will ever make again! I had a smaller brisket and put the shallots in the dutch oven with the brisket rather than doing it 3 hours later. It came out perfect. I skipped the broiling part as well. My brisket looked just like the picture above.This was the most delicious brisket that I have ever made. The lemon juice and parsley add a nice touch. Thank you Susan Spungen and The NY Times. You always come though!

Jennie

Didn’t have pomegranate juice. Didn’t want to go to the store. Subbed juice from 1lb of sour cherries I had in the freezer plus about 2Tbsp pomegranate molasses. Rave reviews.

Claudia O'Connell

Made this for Hanukah dinner 2020 and it was the best pot roast recipe I have made. Sprinkling roasted pistachio nuts as a garnish gave such a wonderful compliment to the richness of the flavors. This will be my annual brisket recipe for the holiday.

Christine

If you are in the United States you can find “Pom Wonderful” brand juice in the refrigerated juice cabinet in most supermarkets

Prakash Nadkarni

@Jenn: You can certainly slow-cook. See recipetineats.com/slow-cooker-beef-brisket-with-bbq-sauce/ and dinneratthezoo.com/slow-cooker-brisket/. For the present recipe, follow steps 1-3; substitute slow-cooker for oven in Step 4,cook for 8-10 hours. Then follow the remaining steps of the recipe.The reason for cooking cipollini separately is that they would turn to mush if cooked with the meat.

Tasha

Is separating out the fat necessary? It seems fiddly. Happy Hanukkah to everyone making this on the first night.

Gina Ruben

They also have a very bad reputation for how they treat their employees.

Susan

Very good but still prefer the coffee brisket recipe in Zahav. Don’t need to put under broiler. Reheated on top of stove, removed brisket, and reduced liquid a bit.

Cooking in SF

My mom made this yesterday and it was delicious that it was on the saltier side. Having grown up in a household that uses less salt, we are also a bit more sensitive to the taste. Take that as you will! But overall delicious meal

Misha

I didn't have many things in this recipe, and it still came out delicious! my first time making brisket too. i used all red wine, because i did not have pomegranate juice; and i didn't have parsley or lemon to add at the end...and i didn't want to remedy that because - covid. I would like to make it again sometime with the pomegranate, to see how that is different. But even without it the brisket was delicious!

Kathy

I made this for New Year's Eve. Fabulous! My first time ever making brisket. The 5 lb cut was too big for my dutch oven, but I just folded it in to brown and made it work. I made it a day ahead, refrigerated the whole pot, removed the fat the next day and sliced it. I reheated on stovetop and did a 5" broil. It was exceptional; the flavors complex and the meat tender. The parsley adds a fresh note and the presentation is very festive with the pomegranate seeds. I wouldn't change a thing.

july 30, 2021

Made it in the Instant Pot, on the “Meat Stew” setting, for 40 min. Amazing. Was as good as when I braised it in the oven.

Scott

Absolutely the best braised brisket in my long life. Context: I grew up on briskets from my mother and grandmother that had tasty meat, but no seasoning so it required when I was younger ketchup, and later, with a more sophisticated palle horseradish to fully enjoy the meat.But not with this brisket, it is absolutely delicious and moist, but not greasy as the seasoning of the rub come through loud and clear.

emma b

Delicious recipe which I make for the holidays the past 3 years. For an even more festive flair - I added sliced star fruit when serving. Beautiful!

Andrea

With regard to "pomegranate juice," should one use sweetened or unsweetened? Thanks!

Becky

Can someone advise on how to reheat the second day, as suggested by the note?

Ben

Flavor is absolutely delicious. But I did this with a flat brisket a bit under 3 lbs and it came out somewhat tough. Anyone have ideas why it might turn out that way?

Catherine R

Made according to the recipe but didn’t have wine so used more pomegranate juice. When the brisket was tender, removed it and cooked the sauce down to be somewhat thicker. Didn’t have fresh pomegranates or small onions so it was just meat and sauce. Huge hit! Definitely a keeper.

rachael

This is one of my go-to crowd pleasers. Always make a double recipe - you’re going to need it! I also double the onions because they are spectacular!

Wendy

Would this work with lamb? Has anyone tried it?

ADM

I have made this on several occasions and this has become our "Go To Brisket Dish" for several Family members. A couple of tweaks (in addition to those previously mentioned) is that I:-Use WHOLE Prime vacuum Brisket (Costco--its $4 per lb vs. $8 for Flat trimmed vs. $12 for Prime trim)-up the dry wine from 8->12oz-Shallots & Chipopolini-initially roast for slightly less than 3 hrs. Let rest refrigerated overnight intact before removing the fat & then let soak sliced in fridge in juiceMMM!

Valerie

Has anyone seasoned the brisket the day before?

Olivia

Am I the only one that got a mouthful of coffee grinds with every bite? Don't get me wrong, the taste and texture of the brisket was EXCEPTIONAL, but I found the grinds off-putting. Any advice? I used finely ground. Also potentially a very silly question but is the coffee still caffeinated after such a long time in the oven? Can I feel this to my toddler? Thanks!

CSN

Fabulous. Followed directions including chilling in fridge for a while, up until broiling step. I just put it back in oven to warm back up,no broiling. Meat was perfectly tender. Used small shallots. What a fabulous flavor. Will add this to special occasion repertoire!

Clara

WARNING: this brisket is highly caffeinated. My fiancé and I were awake half the night after eating this (delicious) brisket. I used espresso in the rub and, what do you know, after 4 hours braising in espresso-saturated liquid, this beef had us wired. Consequently, I recommend either using decaf or enjoying this dish as part of a decadent Sunday lunch. Note: eating this brisket for lunch at the office the next day and was very productive in the afternoon.

marie

My local supermarket didn’t have brisket, so I substituted tritip. ‘Twas delicious! I took some pomegranate seeds out of the freezer ( our tree yielded about 60 pomegranates this year), whirred them in the blender and passed through a sieve to yield 1 1/2 cups of juice. So, so good. My son, who is a tough critic, objected to the pomegranate seed garnish as defiling the meat, but still loved it. I thought the garnish was essential - otherwise it would have looked very monochrome brown.

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Spice-Rubbed Braised Brisket Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to leave dry rub on brisket before cooking? ›

How Long Should a Dry Rub Sit on a Brisket. While you can technically cook a brisket right after you apply the rub, we recommend letting the rub sit on the meat for up to 24 hours so the flavors are really absorbed into the meat.

What is the secret to a tender brisket? ›

It's a tough cut of meat, which is why the best way to cook brisket is a low-and-slow method: Long, slow cooking makes it tender.

How long should I braise brisket? ›

Pour broth to come halfway up side of pan, and bring to a boil. Using a spoon or spatula, move vegetables to the sides of the pan and place the seared brisket in center. Braise uncovered in oven until meat is tender, 3 to 3.5 hours. You're looking for fork tender brisket.

Does brisket get softer longer it cooks? ›

With evaporation stopped, the heat of your smoker pulls ahead in the battle of the stall. The temperature of the meat begins to rise again -- which you want because brisket gets more tender the longer you cook it.

Should brisket rub be covered or uncovered overnight? ›

Remember to put a layer of salt first and then a layer of the dry rub. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

How long to cook a brisket at 250 degrees? ›

A 3-pound brisket will typically require 5-6 hours of smoking at the base temperature of 250° F to reach full doneness. If you have more time, you can lower the temperature for a more tender, fall-apart texture.

What is the 3/2:1 rule for brisket? ›

Often used for other meats that require long, slow cooking on the barbecue, such as ribs, the 3-2-1 method essentially involves firstly smoking the meat as it is for three hours, wrapping it for the second two hours, and finally finishing the cooking unwrapped for the last hour.

At what temperature does brisket fall apart? ›

The collagen has broken down, and the meat is no longer tough. 205°F (96°C): Many pitmasters aim for this precise temperature as it often results in a beautifully tender and succulent brisket.

What is the key to a juicy brisket? ›

Hitting your brisket with the right level of heat is critical. For example, if you're cooking at 250°F, hit it with 350°F to start. For the first 20 minutes, you'll want to use a higher temperature to sear the brisket and brown the outer layer, which will help contain its juiciness.

Why is my braised brisket tough? ›

Brisket contains a lot of connective tissue, which can make it tough. The type of connective tissue in brisket is called collagen. Cook the meat quickly and you get tough, dry meat. Cook a brisket slowly, with some liquid, and the collagen turns into gelatin.

Do you braise brisket fat side up or down? ›

To set things straight, we're here to put an end to the confusion, so you can get back to the grill with confidence. For brisket cooked to flavorful perfection, fat-side-down is the way to go. This is the only way to achieve a brisket that is perfectly moist with a perfect bark on both sides.

Can you braise brisket too long? ›

Low and Slow

On the other hand, if you cook it too long, the result is dry meat. The fall-apart goodness of this delicious meat is worth every hour.

Why is my brisket still tough after 8 hours in the slow cooker? ›

Why is meat still tough after cooking in a slow cooker? Meat that is over-cooked, even if it's submerged in liquid, will eventually dry-out, and get tough, and different cuts of meat cook differently.

Is brisket still tough at 203 degrees? ›

You still need to cook your brisket to about 203°F (95°C), but there is a good chance it won't be completely tender by the time you get there. You still need to check the tenderness with a knife, a probe, or by jiggling the whole thing. We cooked one easily within a workday, clocking in at about 6.5 hours.

Can you leave dry rub on too long? ›

You can even leave the dry rub on overnight, but keep in mind that the salt content will begin to dry out the meat if left on for too long. If you're in a hurry, you can hit the grill immediately after applying the rub.

How far in advance should you dry rub? ›

You can apply a rub right before you cook or a few hours ahead of time for basic grilling or up to 24 hours ahead if you're hot-smoking.

How long do you let brisket sit before cooking? ›

Before smoking, the brisket should be trimmed of excess fat and seasoned generously with a dry rub. The dry rub should sit on the meat for at least an hour before smoking. Additionally, beginners should let the brisket sit at room temperature for about an hour before smoking to ensure even cooking.

Can I season my brisket 48 hours before cooking? ›

Once it has been trimmed up, it is recommended to dry brine your brisket because it is such a large cut of meat. To do this, apply kosher salt to the outside of the brisket and place it back into the fridge overnight or even up to 48 hours in advance to cooking.

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