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Sliced brisket on a small white plate with potatoes and carrots and knife and fork nearby.

Jewish Brisket Recipe with a Sweet and Sour Braising Sauce

Beth Lee
This Jewish brisket recipe, courtesy of my mom, is our family's tried and true sweet and sour brisket recipe. It's perfect for Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah but is comforting and delicious anytime of the year.
4.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Jewish Holiday Cooking
Servings 10 servings
Calories 574 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces bottle of beer - heavy dark beer is best but any will do
  • 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce canned or homemade
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 4-5 pounds brisket
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion thinly sliced
  • 12 ounces baby carrots or sliced carrots
  • 12 small red or white potatoes cut into even size pieces
  • salt and pepper to taste about 1 teaspoon each

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine beer, ketchup, and cranberry sauce in a medium bowl and set aside.
  • Add the olive oil to the roasting pan on the stovetop, preheat the pan to medium or medium high. Add the sliced onions. As they begin to cook, salt and pepper your brisket.
  • Once the onions are starting to brown, push them to the side of the pan and add the brisket in fat side down. Let it brown thoroughly on the first side.
  • Then turn the brisket over to brown on the other side.
  • Turn the burner off and pour the braising liquid over the meat. Cover the pan with tin foil (or a cover if you have one - for example if you're using a Le Creuset or similar braising pot). Place in the oven and set the timer for 2 hours.
  • After 2 hours, take brisket out of the oven and place the brisket on a large cutting board. Let it cool down for a few minutes, then slice it against the grain. (crucial to cut against the grain or it will be tough to chew even if it is cooked properly)
  • If you would like to cook carrots and potatoes with the brisket (yummy!), add them to the pan, then place the sliced brisket back in as well. Cook for about 1 more hour. Size of brisket, type of pan, and oven will all affect the actual cooking time. However, you can’t really over cook it and if you check it with a fork and it is easy to grab a piece of a slice, you know you’re good to go. Also, check the carrots and potatoes if you added them to be sure they are fork tender.
  • You can now either serve the brisket immediately or let it cool uncovered for about half an hour and refrigerate it to eat up to 2 days later. You can also freeze the brisket for later use.

Notes

  • Pro-tip: My mom's cutting method bears repeating. Remove the brisket about one hour before it's done cooking. Slice it across the grain - this is crucial. Place it back in the roasting pan and braising juices to finish cooking, along with any vegetables you are adding to the pan.
  • Brisket is hard to overcook so don't worry worry about perfection with this cut of meat.
  • I find the flavor is even better the second day so making this ahead of time is absolutely a good thing to do!
  • The extra braising liquid makes a delicious gravy. Remember to serve it heated along with the brisket.
  • For Rosh Hashanah, serve with a green salad or green vegetable, a luscious kugel, and some sliced round challah and you’re off to a sweet and yummy new year!

Nutrition

Calories: 574kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 43gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 328mgPotassium: 1915mgFiber: 6gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 4783IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 6mg
Keyword braising, Brisket
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