Beer Braised Brisket

Another recipe from Bon Apetit. This is an easy recipe that can be used to serve a crowd. Great for a Super Bowl party.  Just plan ahead because the brisket needs to marinate for a while and it has to cook for hours. A three pound brisket can serve 5-6 and an eight pound can feed 12.  The recipe is for a an 8-10 pound brisket. If using a smaller brisket just make half of the rub. Serve with BBQ sauce in a roll with cole slaw or use it in tacos.

Ingredients
6 garlic cloves
2 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs Dijon mustard
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tbs black pepper (I used less)
1 Tbs ground cumin
1 Tbs paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 c kosher salt
1 8-10 lb untrimmed flat cut brisket
2 onions, thinly sliced
1-3 12 oz can or bottle lager (I found the liquid dried up before the brisket was done and had to add more beer to the pan)

Directions
1.  Finely chop garlic in food processor or use frozen garlic cubes.
2.  Add brown sugar, mustard, oil, black pepper, cumin, paprika, cayenne, and 1/4 cup salt and procees until smooth.
3.  Rub all over brisket, working into crevices.  Wrap in plastic wrap chill at least 12 hours and up to two days.  Let meat come to room temperature for an hour.
4.  Preheat oven to 325.
5.  Scatter onions in a large roasting pan or Dutch oven and set brisket fat side up on top of the onions.  Add beer, cover with foil or lid.  Braise until very tender 5-6 hours. Check periodically and add more beer as needed.
6.  Remove from oven and heat broiler.  Uncover and broil brisket for 5-10 minutes until browned and crisp.
7.  Let brisket cool slightly.  Remove from pan and shrd or slice.  Remove onions and mix into brisket if desired. Moisten with some cooking liquid.
8.  Serve with coleslaw, pickles, BBQ sauce on rolls.

Spicy Beef Tacos

This is a step above tacos made with a package mix and almost as easy. It can be made with beef or try ground lamb or pork for a change.

Ingredients
3 cups thinly sliced cabbage (about 1 meduim)
1 bunch radishes, sliced into half moons
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
3 tsps lime juice
Salt
1 lb ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced or 2 frozen cubes
1 tsp chopped fresh oregano
1 tsp chile powder
1/2 tsp chipolte chili powder
1/4 cup beer
1 tsp cider vinegar
8 warm tortillas
Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, guacamole, avocado slices or lime wedges

Directions
1.  Combine cabbage, radishes, cumin, cilantro and lime juice in a large bowl. Add salt to taste.
2.  Sauté beef, garlic and oregano in a large skillet over medium high heat breaking up meat until no pink remains.  Drain excess fat. Add chile powders, beer, vinegar and salt.  Cook until liquid has evaporated about 2-3 minutes.
3.  Set out tortillas and cabbage and any other toppings and let everyone make their own tacos.

Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Gochujang has become one of my favorite condiments. Think of it as Korean steak sauce. Goes with beef, chicken or pork. Adds a sweet and spicy flavor to marinades and sauces.  I found this recipe in Cooking Light and the one change I made was to double the marinade, add a little rice vinegar and use it as a sauce for the wraps.

Ingredients

2 1/2 tbs low sodium soy sauce

2 tbs brown sugar

1 tbs sesame oil

1 tbs gochujang sauce

1 tbs minced garlic

(I make the above to use as a marinade. Than I double it plus 1 tbs rice vinegar to use as a sauce.)

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast thinly sliced

1 cup uncooked rice

2 tsp canola oil

1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

12 Bibb or iceberg lettuce leaves

1 English cucumber

(I slice the cucumber and season it with garlic salt and rice vinegar)

4 green onions, sliced

Directions

1.  Combine first five ingredients in a large zip lock plastic bag. Double the same ingredients and add 1 tbs rice vinegar and set aside to serve with the wraps.  Add chicken slices to soy sauce mixture in the bag and seal.  Refrigerator at least two hours.

2.  Cook rice according to package directions.

3.  Remove chicken from marinade. Discard marinade.  Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. And oil and swirl to coat pan. Add chicken and stir fry until chicken is done. Sprinkle sesame seeds over chicken. Could also grill chicken or cook on a grill pan. 

4.  Place rice in bottom of lettuce cup, add chicken, cucumber slices, green onions and sauce.