Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Place the brisket on a double thickness of aluminum foil in a shallow roasting pan. Wrap it tightly and bake for 4 to 5 hours or until the meat is very tender. Remove the brisket from the oven and peel back the foil. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Return the brisket to the oven and roast, uncovered, for 30 minutes to crisp the top layer of fat. Allow the meat to rest for 20 minutes. Trim off the fat layer and cut across the grain into thin slices. Serve with barbecue sauce.
TEXAS DRY RUBUse this rub to season brisket before barbecuing. It's also good on ribs, steak, and chicken.
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons garlic powder
In an airtight container with a lid, combine the salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Shake to mix well. Sprinkle over the entire surface of the meat, concentrating on the fat layer. Rub or press into the fat and meat.
Makes 1/2 cup.
TEXAS WET MOP1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 large (or 2 small) bay leaf
1 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 1/4 cups beef stock
In a medium saucepan, combine the salt, dry mustard, chili powder, paprika and vegetable oil. Stir to make a paste. Add the remaining ingredients slowly, stirring all the while.
Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Pour into a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate until ready to use.
Brush the mop on beef or ribs while barbecuing over dry (no water pan), indirect heat.
Makes 1 quart.
LONE STAR BARBECUE SAUCE1 1/4 cups ketchup
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1/4 cup water
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter or pan drippings from barbecue
Combine the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, mustard, water and garlic in a medium saucepan. Place over very low heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. For really smoky flavor, place on the grill away from the heat source during the last hour of smoking.
Stir in the butter or drippings and cook 15 minutes longer. Pour into a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate to store, up to 2 weeks.
Makes about 3 cups.
Note: To obtain pan drippings, place a drip pan under the brisket during cooking or save the juices that collect while the meat rests during slicing. You can also heat some of the fat trimmings to obtain some fat drippings. If using the fail-safe technique of barbecuing brisket, as described with the accompanying recipe, the meat drippings collect in the foil and can easily be spooned up and added to the sauce.