Fiesta Brisket
- 4 guajillo chiles
- 4 cups boiling water
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 garlic cloves
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano leaves*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 3 teaspoons salt, divided
- 2 teaspoons ground pepper
- 1 (4- to 5-lb.) beef brisket flat
- 8 cups hickory wood chips
- 2 large limes, cut into wedges
- Garnish: fresh cilantro sprig
- Cook chiles in a skillet over high heat 5 minutes or until fragrant, turning often. Remove stems and seeds from chiles. Place chiles in a large bowl; add 4 cups boiling water, and let stand 20 minutes. Drain.
- Process chiles, vinegar, next 8 ingredients, and 3/4 tsp. salt in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
- Sprinkle pepper and remaining 2 1/4 tsp. salt over brisket. Place brisket in an extra-large zip-top plastic freezer bag or a large shallow dish. Pour chile mixture over brisket; rub brisket with chile mixture. Seal or cover, and chill 2 to 24 hours.
- Soak wood chips in water 30 minutes. Prepare gas grill by removing cooking grate from 1 side of grill. Close grill lid, and light side of grill without cooking grate, leaving other side unlit. Preheat grill to 250u0b0 to 300u0b0 (low) heat.
- Spread 4 cups soaked and drained wood chips on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Cover with another sheet of heavy-duty foil, and fold edges to seal. Poke several holes in top of pouch with a fork. Place pouch directly on lit side of grill. Cover with cooking grate.
- Remove brisket from marinade, discarding marinade. Place brisket, fat side up, in a 12- x 10-inch disposable foil roasting pan. Place pan on unlit side of grill; cover with grill lid.
- Grill brisket, maintaining internal temperature of grill between 225u0b0 and 250u0b0, for 1 1/2 hours. Carefully tear open foil pouch with tongs, and add remaining 4 cups soaked and drained wood chips to pouch.
- Cover with grill lid, and grill, maintaining internal temperature of grill between 225u0b0 and 250u0b0, until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of brisket registers 165u0b0 (about 1 1/2 hours).
- Remove brisket from grill. Place brisket on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, and pour 1/2 cup pan drippings over brisket; wrap with foil, sealing edges.
- Return brisket to unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, until meat thermometer registers 195u0b0 (about 2 hours). Remove from grill, and let stand 10 minutes. Cut brisket across the grain into thin slices. Squeeze juice from limes over brisket before serving. Garnish, if desired.
- Note: Guajillo chiles and Mexican oregano may be found on the spice aisle of specialty grocery stores or in Mexican markets.
- *Dried oregano may be substituted for Mexican oregano.
- Oven-Roasted Fiesta Brisket: Prepare recipe as directed through Step Preheat oven to 350u0b0. Remove brisket from marinade, discarding marinade. Wrap brisket with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and place in a jelly-roll pan. Bake 3 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 195u0b0 and brisket is very tender. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 minutes. Cut brisket across the grain into thin slices. Prep: 30 min., Cook: 5 min., Stand: 30 min., Chill: 2 hr., Bake: 3 hr.
guajillo chiles, boiling water, cider vinegar, chicken broth, garlic, onion, thyme, oregano, ground cumin, ground cloves, ground allspice, salt, ground pepper, hickory wood chips, cilantro sprig
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/fiesta-brisket (may not work)