posted by Liz 07-14-98 9:10 AM
Cook's Illustrated in March/April 1997.
Home-Corned Beef Brisket
1/2 cup kosher salt
1 Tblsp. black peppercorns, cracked
3/4 Tblsp. ground allspice
1 Tblsp. dried thyme
1/2 Tblsp. paprika
2 bay leaves, crumbled
1 fresh beef brisket (4-6 pounds), preferably point cut, trimmed of excess fat, rinsed and
patted dry
Mix salt and seasonings in small bowl.
Spear brisket about thirty times per side with meat fork or metal skewer. Rub each side evenly with salt mixture; place in 2 gallon size zipper lock bag, forcing out as much air as possible. Place in pan large enough to hold it (a jelly roll pan works well), cover with second, similar size pan, and weight with two bricks or heavy cans of similar weight.
Refrigerate 5-7 days, turning once a day.
Home Corned Beef and Cabbage, New England Style
Serves 8 with leftovers
The meat is cooked fully when it is tender, the muscle fibers have loosened visibly, and a skewer slices in with minimal resistance. Serve this dish with horseradish, either plain or mixed with whipped or sour cream, or with grainy mustard.
1 Home Corned Beef Brisket, rinsed and patted dry 7-8 pounds prepared vegetables of your choice.
Bring brisket to boil with water to cover by 1/2 to 1 inch in large soup kettle or stockpot skimming any scum that rises to surface. Cover and simmer until skewer inserted in thickest part of brisket slides out with ease, 2 to 3 hours.
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Transfer meat to large platter, ladling about 1 cup cooking liquid over it to keep it moist. Cover with foil and set in oven.
Add vegetables to kettle and bring to boil; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, remove meat from oven and cut across the grain into 1/4 inch slices.
Transfer vegetables to meat platter, moisten with additional broth, and serve.
Vegetables for Corned Beef and Cabbage, New England Style
Choose to suit your tastes. To make sure that vegetables are evenly cooked, trim them all to sizes appropriate for their density and cooking characteristics and add to the pot in
two batches.