Slow-Cooked Maple Cider Brisket ~ a comforting pot roast that makes the whole house smell amazing!
I chose this recipe because I was intrigued by the unusual flavors in the sauce. And since I don’t often cook large cuts of meat, this gave me the excuse to try a brisket. It turned out to be very easy to assemble and the oven did most of the work. I halved the recipe and used a 3 lb brisket. I omitted the bacon and used fresh oregano.
Thin slivers of garlic get pressed into small slits in the meat, infusing it with flavor. The long slow cooking mellows and blends the flavors of the sauce, which at first glace can seem a little strange~~maple syrup, cider vinegar, strong coffee, cayenne, mustard and tomato paste don’t seem like obvious partners, but somehow it all seems to work in the end. The sauce is rich and complex, and is a nice change from the tomato-heavy sauces you often get with brisket.
We had this as the authors advised, with mashed rutabaga and Brussels sprouts. It was really delicious and the quintessential mid-winter meal. I think I’ll serve the leftovers over noodles tomorrow night.
Also try ~
*recipe from Edible Green Mountains
Slow-Cooked Maple Cider Brisket
Ingredients
- 4 pound beef brisket
- 2 cloves garlic, cut into thin slivers
- 1/2 pound maple-smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled, optional
- 3 tbsp bacon drippings, or grapeseed oil
- 2 onions, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cayenne
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Using a paring knife, cut small slits all over the brisket, inserting a sliver of garlic into each slit as you cut it. Place the brisket into a large Dutch oven or roasting pan fitted with a lid.
- In a large sauté pan or saucepan, heat the bacon drippings over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally until golden, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, and cayenne and stir for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring continuously, for 1 minute. Stir in the coffee, vinegar, maple syrup, broth and mustard. Bring the ingredients to a boil. Pour the contents of the sauté pan over the brisket in the Dutch oven.
- Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and place it into the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Decrease the heat to 300° F and bake, basting the meat with the pan sauce once or twice, until the brisket is fork tender, about 3 hours. Allow the meat to rest for about 15 minutes. Slice the meat across the grain using an electric knife or sharp carving knife. Place the sliced meat into a large ovenproof serving container with lid. Remove the fat from the surface of the sauce. Pour the sauce over and around the meat. Cover the container with the lid.
- Place the container with the brisket back into the oven for 30 minutes. Garnish with the crumbled bacon (if using). Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Note: You can refrigerate the brisket overnight after slicing it, if desired. Reheat the brisket in a preheated 350° F oven until the sauce is bubbling, about 30 to 45 minutes.
I’m a little late to this particular party, but this recipe showed up on Pinterest and I couldn’t resist commenting on your blog post! This looks divine. It would be a perfect holiday meal. I’m thinking of making it for Christmas Dinner.
And I love the local food movement! You can find so many amazing things that aren’t in grocery stores at farmers markets or small businesses.
Thanks Melissa, this is a great combination of flavors and I think it would be wonderful for Christmas!
I always thought beef was a hard picture to take. Yours looks wonderful with the onions on top. What a hearty meal for a cold rainy day like today.
Sue, This does look like the perfect winter meal. Of course this week it’s hot in California again, so I’ll have to store this away for next winter CT. Your photos are beautiful…I know I always say that…but your styling and photography are amazing.
xo
annie
Gosh, that looks good, Sue. Would you believe I’ve never cooked brisket?? Bet it’s even better the next day.
What a super idea to serve it with brussel sprouts and rutabega!
Boy does this look good. I have only had brisket at a barbeque. I love the fact that the oven did most of the work. Good choice
Coffee…now this sounds almost like a recipe from Jamaica! I bet it’s as delicious as it looks. Definitely something I’d love to try. 🙂
I was trying to figure out what tradition, if any, the sauce came from. Jamaica sounds like an interesting theory…maybe it could be made with molasses!