Whole Food Wednesday – Braised BBQ Beef Brisket

Welcome to Whole Food Wednesdays! You’re invited to come and share your real food recipes using the Linky below. We’re excited to see what yummy things you’ve been creating and what great informational posts and videos you’ve got for us.

I have had this beef brisket staring at me from the freezer for a month. I was getting absolutely no inspiration for what to do with it until I went to Karen’s Blog, Back Road Journal, and found her brisket recipe. I had every intention of making her recipe because it sounded so good. At the last minute I changed my mind. One of the main reasons I haven’t done anything with the brisket is because most of the recipes floating around on the inter tubes involve BBQ sauce (with a bunch of fake ingredients). Karen’s recipe does not, hence the reason I was so excited to try it. Up until just recently, I hadn’t been able to make a bbq sauce that was really yummy and didn’t involve a bunch of fake ingredients like ketchup. With my first successful BBQ recipe sauce under my belt, I thought there’s no time like the present to try out a brisket recipe where I could use what I learned. However the credit for the inspiration really does go to Karen.

There’s no doubt that buying grass fed meat is more expensive. After all there’s a much higher cost to the producer to provide such a high quality product. If you want to know why you should make the switch, here’s a good resource. But there are ways to save money while still enjoying the health qualities of grass fed meat. Less expensive cuts of meat are a great way to go. Sure they may not be as tender, but that’s where braising comes in. There’s always a way to cook a less than tender piece of meat into something delicious. Even tongue can be mouthwateringly good (try it the next time you’re in Mexico). I have yet to have the guts to try making tongue at home, so for now I’ll stick with shanks, brisket, round roast, et cetera. I will get up the nerve. I’m just working on it!

I paid 3.99/lb for this grass fed beef brisket roast. When the great cuts of meat (steaks) can cost 18.99/lb, this is quite the savings.

Braised BBQ Brisket

• 1 Tbsp paprika
• 1 Tbsp Smoked Spicy Paprika like La Chinata
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp fresh cracked pepper
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 lb brisket roast

Combine all of the ingredients together to make a paste. Spread the paste all over the meat. Allow the meat to soak in the flavors for 1 hour, but up to 24 hours. Preheat oven to 400 F. Place the roast in a large oven proof pot with a lid. Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile make up the braising sauce. Add the braising sauce to the brisket. Reduce the heat to 325 F. Cook, covered for 2- 2 1/2 hours. Remove the cover and cook for another  30 minutes or until very tender.

This lovely raw brisket sitting for an hour in it spicy paste

Braising Sauce

• 1 onion, peel and roughly chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can organic tomato paste
• 4 tomatoes
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tsp spice smoked paprika
• 2 tsp dijon
• 2 Tbsp Orange Brandy
• 2 tsp fish sauce
• 2 cups water

Place all of the ingredients together in a food processor. Blend until mostly smooth. Add the water and stir until combined. Follow the instructions above for braising the brisket.

Whole Food Wednesdays

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Now it’s your turn to share your whole food recipes and ideas!

I’m sharing this with Whole New Mom, These Chicks Cook, Cast Party Wednesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Tasty Alternative, What’s Cooking Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Pennywise Platter Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Food Friday, Friday Food Flicks, Freaky Friday, Fight Back Friday, and Foodie Friday.