Braised beef Slow cooked to Perfection

Welcome to your new favourite comfort food, slow cooked braised beef.

There’s something magical about the slow cooked braised beef  that fills your kitchen with mouth watering aromas. It brings everyone to the kitchen.

This braised beef brisket is exactly that meal which warms everyone’s soul. It is simple, satisfying and practical for cold winter nights or Sunday dinners with the family.

It is slow cooked until tender. This braised beef brisket is nestled in a savoury broth with onions, carrots , garlic and herbs. The result?! Melt in your mouth  main course, that is rich, flavourful and your new go to recipe for weeknights or Sunday dinner.

Why You’ll Love this Braised Beef Recipe

• It is fork tender, from slow cooking
• Simple pantry Ingredients are used with easy steps to follow
• The flavour is unique and rich thanks to aromatic herbs and veggies.
• Make ahead friendly ( tastes even better the next day.
• Perfect for entertaining or weeknight comfort food.

Ingredients You’ll need for the Braised Beef

Here is what you need to create a delicious, slow cooked braised beef brisket.

Main Ingredients:

• 3 – 4 lbs beef brisket, fat trimmed
• 2 large onions
• 3 – 4 garlic cloves ( minced)
• 3 carrots peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups of beef broth
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 cup of dry red wine ( optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Herbs & Aromatics

• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp paprika

Fresh parsley or rosemary for garnish

What is braised beef brisket?

Beef brisket comes from the chest of the cow. It is a tougher cut of meat, which make it ideal for braising. This slow cooking method transform tough meat into something buttery and delicious.

Beef brisket is commonly used in barbeque, but when braised with broth, vegetables and herbs, it becomes a hearty and soul warming  meal perfect for any occasion.

How to make braised beef brisket

Step 1: Sear the brisket

Start by patting the brisket dry and seasoning generously with salt and pepper.

In a large Dutch oven or oven safe pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Sear the brisket on both sides, ( about 4 – 5 minutes per sides) until brown. Remove the brisket and set aside.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the sear! This step adds flavour that carries through the whole dish. 

Step 2: Build the flavour base

Lower the heat to medium. Add sliced onions to the same pot and cook until golden and soft, about 5 – 7 minutes.

Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste. Cook for another 1 – 2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and the tomato is slightly caramelized.

Step 3: Deglaze & Add veggies

Add the red wine and scrape up and brown bits from the bottom of the pot. These are packed with flavour.

Next, toss in the carrots and let everything simmer for 3 – 4 minutes. This helps marry the base flavours before the long braise.

Step 4: Braise the Brisket

Return the brisket to the pot. Pour in the beef broth until the brisket is halfway submerged. Add the thyme, bay leaves and paprika of using.

Bring everything to simmer, then cover and put the pot into a pre heated oven 163 ‘C. Let it cook for 3 – 3.5 hours, flipping once halfway through, until the meat is incredibly tender.

Step 5: Rest and Serve

Once the braised beef brisket is fork tender, remove it from the oven. Let it rest for about 15 minutes before slicing.

Slice the braised beef against the grain for maximum tenderness. Serve with a ladle of flavourful braising gravy and veggies of your choice.

 

What to serve with braised beef brisket?

This dish is the ultimate centre piece for a comforting dinner. Pair it with:

 

• Mashed potatoes
• Buttered Noodles
• Roasted root vegetables
• Creamy Polenta
• Fresh green beans or sauteed kale
• Crusty bread to soak up the sauce

For drinks go for a bold red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, or hearty Syrah.

Storing & Reheating

This brisket only gets better with time. It is perfect for meal prep and only gets better with taste the next day for sandwiches. So, it’s a win win slow cooked meal with no waste.

Refrigerate: Let the beef cool down and store it in an airtight container with its juices for 2 days.

Freeze: Let the leftover braised beef cool down completely and than slice it in slices. Freeze the slices of beef with the extra braising liquid for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Gently warm in a covered skillet or in the oven at 150 ‘C (300 ‘F)  until hot. Add a splash of broth if needed.

 

This Braised Beef recipe is very versatile and definitely warms the soul.

 

Let’s have a look at some variations

 

* Add potatoes or mushrooms at the last hour of the cooking

 

* Substitute the red wine for beef broth to have an alcohol free version.

 

* Add extra Worcestershire or Balsamic Vinegar for extra umami

 

* If you enjoy spicy food add some red pepper flakes or smoked chipotle powder

 

* If you want to be a bit creative, make it a BBQ style brisket with smoked paprika and a splash of BBQ sauce

 

Tips for Perfect Beef Brisket everytime.

 

** Always smear the beef first because it boosts the flavour.

 

**  Use a heavy bottomed pot of Dutch      Oven for cooking.

** Cook on low temperature and slow, don’t rush the braise

 

** Let the braised beef rest before you start slicing it.

 

** Always slice against the grain for tenderness

 

Final Thoughts

There is a reason braised beef brisket has been beloved for generations.  It is one of those meals that feels like a hug, hearty, flavourful, and perfect for making memories around the table.

Whether it is a family dinner or weekend treat. Even if it is part of your holiday table, this recipe is a winner, delicious and definitely warms your soul. Try it once and it will become a family favourite.

 

 

If you loved this recipe, check out our delicious lentil soup recipe with its earthy flavour or if you fancy making a healthy snack at home, try out roasted garlic chickpeas.